Guests are way back. In this episode, I sit down with my best—Chase Lambin is a former professional baseball player who spent 15 years chasing the Big League dream, and now coaches in the Texas Rangers organization.
Chase gives us an inside peak at life in professional baseball, including stories I’ve never heard before. His Tracy McGrady story alone makes this episode worth tuning in.
We get into my favorite part of having a buddy who coaches future Major Leaguers—the emotional aspect of players getting called up to the Big Leagues. For me, seeing a text vid of a call-up is like looking into my stocking on Christmas morning.
Chase tells the story of their most recent call-up, Blaine Crim, who, incidentally, is my new favorite player.
Funny how you get older and pull for the 27-year old call-up you have some Kevin Bacon connection to. But when you were 9, you’d have used that rookie’s baseball card in your tire spokes. When you’re older, you’d sooner use a Topps Justin Verlander to give your kid’s balance bike the vroom sound.
We also discuss Chase’s approach to parenting, coaching and maintaining perspective. He shares insights from his book The Hitters Handbook, and reflects on lessons learned from coaches and teammates throughout his career.
Re baseball, we cover everything from 12U travel ball to Corey Seager riling up the Rangers in the playoffs because he got excited about a homerun (which he doesn’t often do).
There’s a reason Chase & I have remained the best of buds since we met in 1994. Episodes where I have him on keep getting better!
But yeah, that’s not the reason.
I’ll just tell you that having a ‘bestie’ you’ve known since 9th grade, and getting to broadcast some our conversations with you beautiful MFs, is one of my joys in life—at least in part, because you’ve told me you enjoy them too.
Here’s what’s discussed:
- Luxurious hotel accommodations in Sugar Land
- Family travel during baseball season
- Networking & potential future employment in baseball
- Casual conversations among baseball players
- Player development & call-ups to the Big Leagues
- Importance of being a good teammate & person in baseball
- Biggest challenge trying to reach the Major Leagues
- Maintaining relationships with former players
- Tracy McGrady cheese puff story
- Financial aspects of professional baseball
- Corey Seager’s approach to baseball
- Interactions with famous baseball players
- Collecting baseball memorabilia
- Storytelling & creativity with children
- Importance of being present in the moment
- Politics in the baseball clubhouse
- Unwritten rules & boundaries in the clubhouse
- Mentorship & personal growth
- Kids in private school vs public school
- Autographs vs selfies
- Travel ball experience
- Online activities & reading habits
- The Hitters Handbook‘s best blurbs/testimonials
- Personal advice & life perspective
- Unique name selection for your kids
- What MLB players do nowadays to get “up” for games
Questions asked:
- How often does the family travel with you?
- Do you ever go to cities & make note of this could be a future home/employer?
- How important is being a good human being?
- How different is the path to the Big Leagues now that you’re on the inside?
- What’s the biggest amount of money you’ve ever seen?
- What’s your thought on Corey Seager?
- What’s the difference in how they train for the Big Leagues in Japan vs here?
- Did you think about that [giving unique names] when you named your kids?
- Do people ask for autographs like they used to or is it all selfies now?
- What do you think causes kids being bold? Is it interactions on social media?
- What’s the best testimonial/blurb you’ve gotten?
- Do you think Ohtani, Seager, etc., get adrenaline rushes before games?
- Do they take caffeine or anything to get them going?
- Where do you spend your time online that’s not social media?
- How could people buy The Hitters Handbook?
Fun questions:
- If you could create a new holiday that celebrates a unique aspect of human nature, what would it be?
- If you could switch lives with somebody for a day on Monday, who would it be?
- What’s the coolest thing anybody’s ever done for you (excluding your wife)?
- If you could turn any activity into an international thing that you think you’d be competitive in, what would that be?
- What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?
- If President Trump asked you for your best advice, what would you tell him?
- If you could have breakfast with one person tomorrow, who would it be?
- What’s the best quality a wife can have?
Books mentioned:
- Why We’re Catholic by Trent Horn
- The Hitters Handbook by Chase Lambin
Connect with Chase:
- Instagram: @chaselambin
- Facebook: Chase Lambin
Listen here:
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