Unexplainable When talent vanishes overnight
Oct 20, 2025
In this engaging discussion, former Major League Baseball player Rick Ankiel shares his extraordinary journey from pitching prodigy to struggling with the yips. He recounts the heart-wrenching moment his skills vanished and explores the psychological toll it took. Psychologist Sally Akehurst and neurologist Steven Frucht delve into the nuances of choking vs. the yips, illuminating the mysterious links between the brain and motor skills. The conversation ultimately reveals insights about talent, resilience, and unexpected comebacks in the world of sports.
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Phenomenon To Collapse On The Mound
- Rick Ankiel described rising to the majors as a teenage phenom who threw multiple no-hitters and reached the big leagues at 20.
- He recalled the playoff inning where his pitches wildly missed and he felt like everything he had ever done as a pitcher vanished.
Automaticity Depends On Self-Trust
- Sally Akehurst explained elite performance depends on automaticity and self-trust, which collapses when athletes become overly conscious.
- She likened it to driving: attention from an external threat can make an automatic skill jerky and inefficient.
Practice, Panic, And Quitting Pitching
- Rick tried countless mechanical fixes, practicing constantly and overanalyzing small habits while the problem persisted.
- He described panic, nightmares, and the eventual decision to step away from pitching after years of struggle.
