Latest news with #PeteWalker
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
'An easy team to get behind': One-on-one with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker
'It's the unsung heroes on this team that stand out ... The glue between the cracks type of guys.' Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, left, and pitcher Kevin Gausman, right, talk to pitching coach Pete Walker, center, during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in New York. Photo by Pamela Smith / AP In the decade since the Blue Jays previously generated so much enthusiasm from their own fan base and around Major League Baseball, Pete Walker has seen some things. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The team's long-time pitching coach was a part of those 2015 and 2016 Jays teams that ended a long drought of playoff absences. He has seen the rise of the Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette era, the flattening out of a team after a couple seasons of that excitement and in the now, an invigorating renaissance. And yes, in the current version that is having the effect of reliving some of those feelings from the summer of 2015, the team's longest-serving coach sees some parallels. 'There's absolutely no doubt,' said Walker, relaxed and reflective during our lengthy recent interview in the home dugout at the Rogers Centre. 'For me, I've experienced both and it feels the same. 'I think these guys are having fun. You can tell. They're excited for each other. It's an easy team to get behind, it really is, and the fans are showing it by filling this place every night.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Walker recognizes the personalities are of a different breed from 2015 to 2025. The previous version was an alpha outfit run by the likes of Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson. The current Jays roster has star power in Guerrero Jr. and others, but it is the supporting cast that has elbowed its way into prominence. And it is that group that is helping drive the wagon that now has played in front of a sold out Rogers Centre for 16 consecutive home games. 'It's the unsung heroes on this team that stand out,' Walker said. 'The glue between the cracks type of guys who you don't figure to be impactful but have really picked up their game when they're called upon. Fans relate to that.' Walker and manager John Schneider have a solid synergy, one made even more exhilarating when success has followed so significantly. The 73-52 record through 125 games is actually better than the 70-55 mark from 2015, a season that ended with 93 wins and a division title. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There are still plenty of twists and turns remaining for a group that has already had some highs and lows, but overall Walker likes the potential of his pitching staff finishing strong. 'There are a lot of things you are going to figure out through the course of the season, but we have a group that's resilient, that seems to be getting stronger at this time of year, which is critical,' said Walker, now in his 13th season as Jays pitching coach. 'With the five (starters) and Shane (Bieber) here taking the ball, we're in a really good position to win a game every night. 'We're excited about the group moving forward.' That doesn't mean Walker's work is done with a group of starters that has shown some inconsistencies along the way. There are also some tough decisions ahead as well, a luxury given the team's record. But success so far has only fuelled the thirst for more. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With that in mind, Walker took some time out from his busy game-day regimen to share thoughts on a number of areas. Shane Bieber #57 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout ahead of play against the Kansas City Royals in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on August 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Mark Blinch / Getty Images AS THE ROTATION TURNS Now that trade deadline acquisition Bieber is expected to be activated for a likely start this weekend in Miami, the permutations surrounding the starting five (or six) will be an almost daily focus of the Jays from today until October. Will there be a six-man rotation for some of it? Will one of the group get a sustained breather? When will the competition begin for Games 1, 2 and 3 of their post season opener? How to handle those that aren't in peak form? What is apparent is that with six starting arms that have all had varying degrees of success, those pitching the best will get the biggest opportunities. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think there's competition, healthy competition,' Walker said. 'It's certainly never rooting against each other, and it's only trying to make each other better and be accountable to what you're doing and what kind of work you're putting in in between outings. 'But I think it's a contagious vibe that these guys are pushing each other and they want the best out of each other.' There have been some struggles along the way and it can certainly be argued that starting pitching hasn't been a season-long strength for the team. Bowden Francis's woes early in the season and those of Jose Berrios of late have presented challenges. 'If someone struggles, everybody feels it,' Walker said. 'With that and especially with the veteran pitchers we have, it tends to make them rise to the occasion.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As Schneider has hinted regularly, the dialogue on how things will unfold going forward has begun and is ongoing. One of the strengths of the Jays this season has been the cleansing of communication lines and that will continue. 'We are definitely weighing different things,' Walker said. 'We try to put those guys in the best position possible to help us out, but also we need to have the best bodies out there to win games. So it'll be a balancing act. And the communication with the guys is paramount. It's really important to try to keep those guys in the loop as to what we're thinking, what we're doing, get feedback from them.' Walker feels having seasoned veterans like Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Berrios as adults in the room, makes the conversations that much easier. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They've all been around so everybody knows (there are tough decisions ahead),' Walker said. 'The last thing you want is pitchers worrying about when their next outing is going to be. It's just one outing, one pitch at a time. You just have to take care of yourself, give the team the best opportunity to win and things will take care of themselves. 'We couldn't be more excited about that possibility and the possibilities of what he can do in a stretch run and potentially the postseason. We have pitchers who we feel can pitch big innings for us.' Pitcher Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays. Getty Images Photo by Julio Aguilar / Getty Images ON MAD MAX As a pitching coach, Walker has marvelled at what Scherzer brings to the clubhouse and the mound. As a former big league pitcher who took care of himself physically to elongate his career, Walker is impressed with what Scherzer's 41-year-old right arm is doing. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I pitched until I was 38, but I wasn't doing that,' Walker said with a laugh. 'I think the guys marvel at him a little with what he's able to do at this age. But he takes care of his body. He still keeps his arm in great, great shape, and it's a testament to him. He's put himself in a position to for us to be a big part of this down the stretch and and I sense that he's really excited about that.' Digging beyond the reputation and the persona of Scherzer, Walker is impressed with the two-time World Series champion's stuff. 'He's up to 96 (miles per hour) with his fastball again and you see a lot of 94 and 95 in big situations,' Walker said. 'His fastball is there. His breaking stuff is there and his changeup. And he's the ultimate competitor.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The best part about that toolbox, of course, is what awaits. If you think Scherzer is locked in for starts in July and August, wait until October. 'Every game is a big game, but with him you feel it,' Walker said. 'You feel the adrenaline and the excitement because he loves to pitch, he loves to compete, and it rubs off on everybody else. 'He's getting better each time out. I've seen the improvements.' BIEBER FEVER Like everyone in the organization, the prospect of adding Bieber to the rotation for the stretch run and beyond is yet another enticing deal to dream upon. Of course Walker isn't about to tip the team's plans for the veteran's integration into the rotation, but he clearly likes what he sees. 'Watching him pitching in Triple A, you can see he's very sharp,' Walker said. 'He's at the point in his rehab where things are really coming together. He's chomping at the bit to pitch in the big leagues.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Specifically, Walker has been impressed at the way Bieber has thrown in his Buffalo rehab starts, indicating he could perform towards the ceiling of the expectations Jays GM Ross Atkins hoped when he made the high-risk, high-reward swap with Cleveland. 'We just want to make sure he's feeling good, bouncing back and in a position for us to win some games down the stretch,' Walker said. 'He's an exciting pitcher. He's been a Cy Young Award winner. He has the potential to be one of the best in the game and we're really excited about him taking the ball.' Jeff Hoffman, right, of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his team's win with Tyler Heineman against the Chicago Cubs in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Toronto. Photo by Mark Blinch / Getty Images DOWN THE STRETCH Like anyone around the team, Walker is invigorated with what awaits for this captivating Jays team looking to finish off a last-to-first season and beyond. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Yes, there is still plenty of baseball to be played, but there's also plenty on the line in the remaining six weeks. There is first place in the East. There is securing one of the top two seeds in the AL and a first-round bye. And at some point there will be monitoring usage to manipulate the rotation for the start of the post season. 'We've built a little bit of a cushion so we can afford a bad game and not (panic),' Walker said. 'This team, this group is good at bouncing back. They've been extremely resilient. They do a 180 just like that.' While no one with the Jays is taking anything for granted – cushion or not – there are some advantages with having a five-game lead in the division with fewer the 40 games remaining. 'It gives you enough of a buffer to absorb a bad loss,' Walker said. 'Then all of a sudden you start playing freer and freer and looser and looser and that's where they are right now. 'Obviously we've seen teams go the other way. I just don't see that with this group. The vibe is so positive that they could handle a bit of a bump. They've shown that all season.' Columnists Canada World Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
National Post
a day ago
- Sport
- National Post
'An easy team to get behind': One-on-one with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker
In the decade since the Blue Jays previously generated so much enthusiasm from their own fan base and around Major League Baseball, Pete Walker has seen some things. Article content The team's long-time pitching coach was a part of those 2015 and 2016 Jays teams that ended a long drought of playoff absences. Article content Article content He has seen the rise of the Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette era, the flattening out of a team after a couple seasons of that excitement and in the now, an invigorating renaissance. Article content Article content And yes, in the current version that is having the effect of reliving some of those feelings from the summer of 2015, the team's longest-serving coach sees some parallels. Article content 'There's absolutely no doubt,' said Walker, relaxed and reflective during our lengthy recent interview in the home dugout at the Rogers Centre. 'For me, I've experienced both and it feels the same. Article content 'I think these guys are having fun. You can tell. They're excited for each other. It's an easy team to get behind, it really is, and the fans are showing it by filling this place every night.' Article content Walker recognizes the personalities are of a different breed from 2015 to 2025. The previous version was an alpha outfit run by the likes of Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson. Article content The current Jays roster has star power in Guerrero Jr. and others, but it is the supporting cast that has elbowed its way into prominence. And it is that group that is helping drive the wagon that now has played in front of a sold out Rogers Centre for 16 consecutive home games. Article content Article content 'It's the unsung heroes on this team that stand out,' Walker said. 'The glue between the cracks type of guys who you don't figure to be impactful but have really picked up their game when they're called upon. Fans relate to that.' Article content Walker and manager John Schneider have a solid synergy, one made even more exhilarating when success has followed so significantly. The 73-52 record through 125 games is actually better than the 70-55 mark from 2015, a season that ended with 93 wins and a division title. Article content There are still plenty of twists and turns remaining for a group that has already had some highs and lows, but overall Walker likes the potential of his pitching staff finishing strong. Article content 'There are a lot of things you are going to figure out through the course of the season, but we have a group that's resilient, that seems to be getting stronger at this time of year, which is critical,' said Walker, now in his 13th season as Jays pitching coach. 'With the five (starters) and Shane (Bieber) here taking the ball, we're in a really good position to win a game every night.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
How to manage responses to stress and conflict
As a business owner or leader, you're no stranger to conflict, whether it's hearing something uncomfortable or delivering a message others may not want to receive. In these situations, you might brace for the classic "fight or flight" reaction and feel relieved if things stay calm. But just because someone agrees, stays silent, or makes a joke doesn't mean they've truly accepted what was said. The "fight or flight" stress response evolved to help mammals survive life-threatening danger. It triggers an instant surge of hormones and physiological changes that prepare us to confront a threat or run from it. While modern life rarely involves being chased by sabre-toothed tigers, many of us still live with chronic, low-level stress. As a result, we can overreact to situations that are not truly dangerous, like a difficult conversation at work. In fact, we now understand there are more than just two instinctive responses to stress. I regularly see these play out in the conflicts I help resolve. Table 1 outlines seven different stress responses I observe and how leaders can respond constructively. Recognising these behaviours can help you lead more effectively, manage team dynamics with greater insight, and avoid costly misunderstandings. People's reactions to conflict are varied and often misleading. Leaders frequently take surface behaviour at face value: — The quiet one agrees quickly, so we can "get on with it." — The person avoiding meetings is "just busy." — The one who gets fired up is labelled "difficult." But if you misread these reactions, you risk making poor decisions without genuine buy-in. Worse, team members may feel overlooked or misunderstood, leading to resentment or disengagement. Being able to recognise and respond to these patterns helps you not only diffuse conflict but also build trust. When your team feels safe to speak honestly, you benefit from their real views, not just their filtered responses. Developing this kind of emotional intelligence starts with being curious, not reactive. Often, these reactions are rooted in self-protection. People who have experienced trauma — or who didn't grow up with emotionally safe relationships — may react more strongly. According to American psychotherapist Pete Walker, individuals who received "good enough parenting" tend to develop a healthy mix of these responses and apply them flexibly depending on the situation. For example, in a workplace setting, someone might draw on a bit of "fight" to be assertive without becoming aggressive. Or they might lean into "freeze" and choose not to have the last word, letting a tense moment pass. If you are dealing with someone reacting strongly, Table 1 includes practical ways to respond without escalating the situation. Often the best move is to take a pause and set a time to return to the conversation when emotions have settled and the rational brain is back online. And sometimes it is actually you who may be reacting unhelpfully. Learning to manage your own stress responses is another skill entirely, and one that is well worth developing, perhaps with the support of a coach or counsellor. But whatever you do, please don't measure your success by how you react to any teenagers in your life. They are a special type of human who are designed to push our buttons! — Kate Keddell is a mediator of workplace and business disputes at
New York Times
06-08-2025
- Health
- New York Times
How ‘Fawning' Is Ruining Your Relationships
Meg Josephson, a psychotherapist in San Francisco, once had a client who said she left every social event convinced, without any proof, that everyone hated her. It was a pattern Ms. Josephson recognized both in herself and in her other clients. It's the prickle of alarm when a friend's text ends with a period instead of a 'friendly' exclamation point. It's the 'tailspin of insecurity,' as Ms. Josephson put it, that occurs after a neighbor doesn't say hello. It's hearing that your boss wants to chat with you and immediately assuming you're going to be fired. So Ms. Josephson posted a video on social media to say, 'You're OK — they're not secretly mad at you.' Thousands of people commented that they had similar fears. ('I realized how much I torture myself' was a typical response.) This nagging feeling that you're in trouble is common, Ms. Josephson said, and there's a name for the strategy that some people use to keep it at bay: fawning. When we sense danger, our nervous systems can respond in three ways: fight, flight or freeze. But some psychologists, like Ms. Josephson, believe that fawning is a fourth stress response. The term was coined by Pete Walker, a psychologist in Berkeley, California, who has written about complex post-traumatic stress disorder. He defines fawning as a protective response developed in childhood as a reaction to trauma — an extreme form of people pleasing. Research on fawning is still emerging, said Nora Brier, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. It has been cited as a reaction to interpersonal violence, a form of disassociation and a submissive response to avoid conflict. However, Dr. Brier cautioned that there wasn't enough evidence yet to consider fawning a nervous system response such as fight, flight or freeze, but she added, 'I would love to see fawning be considered for more research.' People who fawn scramble to be helpful and agreeable to a person who is a threat, said Ms. Josephson, who has been a practicing therapist for five years and has 337,000 followers on Instagram. She grew up in a chaotic household in which she was constantly mollifying and accommodating her volatile father. Fawning is sometimes necessary to keep us safe, she said, whether it's for our physical security or for a paycheck. But for those stuck in the fawn response, the impulse to be vigilant to threats and emotionally monitor others is in overdrive, and it spills over into situations in which we're actually safe 'but our body thinks we're not,' she said. With her new book, 'Are You Mad at Me? How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You,' Ms. Josephson hopes to help people who think that 'I can't feel OK unless the other person is OK,' she said. I asked Ms. Josephson to explain three key takeaways from her book that can help people stop the urge to fawn. You can challenge your perception that someone is mad at you, Ms. Josephson said, by asking these questions: Is this story I'm telling myself absolutely true? Is this person's behavior unusual or just consistent with how he communicates? Could there be other reasons for the person's perceived distance, such as work stress or a recent breakup? For example, when a friend doesn't text Ms. Josephson back, she sometimes thinks, 'Oh my gosh, is it something I said?' Then she reminds herself of the many times that she has received a text that later said, 'Sorry, I was in a meeting,' or 'Sorry, I responded to you in my mind.' It's not that people won't ever be mad at you. But it's helpful to pause and remind yourself that your anxious mind has lied to you in the past, she said. For people who habitually fawn, it can feel intimidating to set boundaries and say no, Ms. Josephson said. So begin with low-stakes situations. Notice when you're using people-pleasing phrases that you don't actually mean, such as 'no problem' if something does present a problem, and 'is this OK with you?' if it's not OK with you. If, for example, someone is apologizing for hurting you, your instinct may be to rush to relieve the person of guilt by saying something along the lines of, 'No, it's totally fine,' Ms. Josephson said. Instead, she said, you can say, 'Thank you, I'm glad we're talking about this.' And if a person tells you that she is not mad at you, take her word for it, Ms. Josephson said. 'Get comfortable with the discomfort of taking what people say at face value without second-guessing what else they could secretly be feeling.' 'If someone is being passive-aggressive in their communication and not directly bringing something to you, there's nothing for you to fix,' Ms. Josephson writes. 'You shouldn't have to work to master ESP.' When we're fawning, Ms. Josephson said, 'the fearful part of ourselves chooses dishonest harmony over deep, authentic connection.' But honest and clear communication is the most important part of any relationship, and it erases the need to read between the lines, Ms. Josephson said. Practice being more direct with someone you feel safe around. Tell the person you are doing this and ask for help, she said. If you are canceling plans, for example, be honest instead of making up an excuse so that the person won't be upset with you. 'This practice might be uncomfortable in the short term but saves us so much energy in the long-term,' she said. 'And it strengthens the relationships we really value.' The next time you have the urge to fawn, Ms. Josephson said, give yourself an authenticity check: Do I really mean what I'm about to say? Am I saying something I don't mean to try to appease the other person? 'It's not in your control to make someone else happy,' Ms. Josephson said. What is in your control, she added, 'is how you spend your time, your energy and your focus.'
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why More Gen Zs Are "Fawning"? Expert Explains This Survival Strategy Born From Trauma
Fawning has become a popular trend among Generation Z, but many fail to understand what it really means. Fawning is a trauma response characterised by excessive people-pleasing, conflict avoidance and an anxious need to appease others to feel safe. The term, coined by psychotherapist Pete Walker, is common among Gen Zs who are navigating stress and anxiety in the digital age. "The fawning trauma response is a learned survival response coming from chronic relationship trauma where one lived a role of suppressing needs, over accommodating others, and appeasing potential threats as a means of survival," Dr Shorouq Motwani, Psychiatrist, Lilavati Hospital, told NDTV. Fawning means prioritising others' needs and feelings above one's own. The term is a lesser-known trauma response that joins the classic trio of fight, flight and freeze. What Leads To Fawning? Fawning often develops in childhood as a way to cope with threatening or traumatic situations, particularly in emotionally unstable environments. Individuals who fawn tend to be hypervigilant to others' moods and reactions, constantly adjusting their behaviour to avoid potential conflict or disapproval. They may struggle with setting boundaries, expressing their own needs, and standing up for themselves. Dr Motwani said that the fawning response is reinforced in the system through chronic exposure to power, control, imbalance and invalidation; it becomes adaptive. "Over time, this dysregulated response impairs autonomy, boundary setting and emotional clarity, persisting long past the terminated trauma," he said. Why Is This Getting Popular Among The Younger Generation? The fawning trauma response is becoming increasingly common among Generation Z due to better mental health literacy, relational trauma experiences, and social media-normalised validation-seeking behaviour. Dr Motwani revealed that in competitive and emotionally invalidating environments, appeasement often acts as a conditioned coping mechanism. "It is often incorrectly misread or judged as agreeableness and a cover for managing difficult situations while maintaining autonomy, and emotional self-regulation," he said. Breaking Free From Fawning "While adaptive short-term and helpful for survival, fawning trauma response disrupts developing identity, limits boundary building, and increases vulnerability to creating co-dependent dynamics, emotional dysregulation, and trauma or harm in relationships," Dr Motwani said. Hence, breaking free from this behaviour becomes important. Recognising fawning tendencies is the first step towards healing and developing healthier coping mechanisms. Therapy, mindfulness practices, and boundary-setting can help individuals overcome fawning patterns. Also, building self-compassion and self-awareness can aid in developing more authentic relationships and a stronger sense of self.
