Dan Blewett
Wanna know who I am? Watch the video interview below. It’s very in-depth and will give you good perspective on me and why I am qualified to do what I do.
I am…
- First and foremost, a Philosophy major. I believe my love of thinking, logic, philosophy and language defines me more than my other, mostly physical attributes.
- A resolute, hard-working man
- A strength coach
- A professional pitcher
- An entrepreneur
- A teacher
- A blunt, realistic person
I Love My Job.
The above sums me up in short but somewhat vague terms. I’m a bit of a baseball enigma, as I really don’t fit the mold of most professional athletes. Here’s what I will do for your young athlete:
- Be a positive role model.
- Train them. Hard. Intelligently.
- Coach them. Insistently. Experientially.
- Teach them how to be a respectable human being.
- Give reminders that I care about them as a person.
- Advocate for them to coaches, schools, other people.
Here’s the thing…
You won’t find a list like that on most coaches’ websites, whether they do those things or not. I could just write some tough literature about how hardcore my training is…believe me, IT IS. But, the reality is that anyone who trains with me on a regular basis is going to get a heavy dose of my personality and my view on life. I have a close relationship with those I train, and everyone should know what I’m rubbing off on them. Yes, we talk about girls, boys, school, parties and all that stuff when workouts are over. I want to mold all my kids into stud athletes. But, at the end of the day, I want them to be quality human beings who respect others and enjoy their lives regardless of how they perform on the field. That’s what I want. Having tons of muscle, strength and prowess really is only a means to an end – being functional, productive and confident in the real world. We’re arrogant about how strong we are, and how hard we work, but at the end of the day our strength and arrogant confidence gives us the ability to go out and better ourselves and the world.
For more information on the instruction and programs I have in the works this offseason, please read the Training Services section of my site.
I’d love for you to subscribe to my newsletter – it’s a good way to keep in touch with what I’m doing, and it often includes insider information not posted on my site.
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Reach me by email by clicking here or by key it in at dblewett20[at]gmail[dot]com
I recently moved down into the MD area (downtown Baltimore specifically). Do you know of any good leagues for a 24-y/o? Since it is the middle of the summer, do you know of any good fall leagues in the summer? Hoping to get back into it, have had a few things detour my pitching lately.
The Baltimore Baseball League is based in the Baltimore metro area. That is the most established semi-pro league in that area. There is also the Baltimore Latin League, which is primarily spanish speakers but isn’t limited to them. I pitched a few games in the BLL before I left for pro ball. Either league you can find via google, but I don’t have any direct contacts. I believe the BBL also has a fall league.
Dan,
I have a 13 year old lefty that throws really hard and L-O-V-E-S baseball. I’ve had him in competitive travel baseball for three seasons now and he has done well. I am looking for a mentoring/training path for him as he transitions and grows. In other words, I think I’ve taught him all I can, and I do not know anybody with a baseball background that might offer useful insight. So far, I’ve been guessing and hoping for good coaches. Since you seem so willing to help I thought I would ask if you be open to mentoring him on-line (or by phone) by giving him a place to ask questions and get support from someone that is actually doing what he hopes to do someday, if so, how much would you charge for such a service. I particularly like your focus on nutrition and physical growth as he is a smaller kid for his age.
Steve
So if you are truly as good as you say you are why the heck are you doing things out of Bloomington, IL? I just don’t see why someone that claims to be as good as you are and supposedly a pitching coach would do so in a place that has little to no interest in baseball and/training. Bloomington/Normal has like 5 people living there when school is out and when it’s in college kids aren’t going to train or get pitching lessons. Little disarming!
I’m sorry, who are you, and where do I claim to be “good”? I write about what I know, and nowhere on this blog have I ever assessed or advertised my skill as a pitching coach. I make no claims about my skill in anything – I write, and whoever wishes to listen or train under me can. If you don’t wish to – don’t. The only one of us who is implying that I am good at my job is you, in your incredulous claim that someone good can’t arise from a small community. Thanks for the ignorant comment!
hi DAN just ran across your site and i have to tell youy i love it. i am a 57 year old father of 4, who, 2 years ago tore my rotator cuff throwing bp to my now 15 year old. i knew i tore it because right after i threw the pitch my trapezius muscle involuntarily spasmed for about 8 seconds. it was scary!!! i hope you never run across that feeling. anyway i had the operation after an mri and much procrastination on my part. after rehab i felt ok but my insurance ran out so i decided to rehab myself. i incorporated strength and stretching exercises. i made ok gains but i felt something was missing. finally one day after alot of reflection i decided that i needed to incorporate mobiltiy exercises. i just do alot of arm circles hundreds of them in between my strength and stretching exercises and that has seemed to do the trick. i can throw bp to my son again but now i ice afterwards and the one thing i learned from the whole experience is to never throw a ball “in anger”. the pitch that i hurt myself on i was angry at myself because i wasnt getting the ball over the plate to my son. i wasnt free and easy and i tried to place the ball over the plate. that poor technique combined with my anger, i feel , led to my injury. i would like to hear your thoughts about what i just stated above and , of course would be interested in any thoughts or techniques you might suggest so that i can continue playing in my over 40 league for years to come. thanks for your time. i really like the site. sincerely george
Not only that, but he doesn’t know what the word “disarming” means.
Little to no interest in baseball? The bloomington-normal area is actually very interested in baseball but up until recently, there hasnt been much success to go along with that interest. After a College World Series championship from Illinois Wesleyan, a MIssouri Valley Conference championship from Illinois State University, and the completion of the inaugural season with the Normal Cornbelters, the success has finally arrived to go along with that interest. On top of this, the blog is not directed towards college athletes alone. Many college athletes already have resources that can educate them in training and do not need to do very much outside work to get their information. If they would like to do so, then they are welcome to do so. For the athletes that don’t have those immediate resources, this is another solid outlet that provides quality information. It combines one person’s personal successes with his knowledge and also provides updates in new findings. Your approach in criticizing Dan makes you appear very uneducated and extremely foolish. If you do not like his findings, you can simply go to a different website.
Kevin,
Apparently you must be from the backwoods of Kentucky where baseball is more relevant than it is in Central Illinois. For you to get on a bash not only someone who you don’t know, but an area that has more than 5 people interested in baseball like you so stated is just stupid. My guess is you are an overweight, over paid computer geek who has nothing better to do on a Friday night than search peoples blogs and make false statements on them.
Dan I don’t often post comments but K B’s gratuitous vitriol spurred me on. Thank you for your well-written, informative and helpful site. I have no academic accreditations in anything related to physiology or athletic performance nor do I profess any authoritative point of view. I’m no baseball player. If my throw goes in the direction I’m facing it must be there’s a strong wind going my way. However, I have spent years critically reading peer reviewed academic and lay publications on sports training and rehabilitation. I found your website particularly helpful in recovering from a rotator cuff injury. I’ve gone on to your site in many other ways and to recommend it to friends and family. Thank you for doing what you do.
Thank you! I really appreciate that. I thoughtfully consider the work of others, and have had some great teachers to steal proven methods from. I then assemble and regurgitate in the most digestible way (sorry for two stomach references there) possible. The summer is a tough time for me to write, but I’m glad it has reached you.
Kevin,
If you dont like what the guy is saying then stop getting on the blog idiot!!