The Baseball Observer - Mental Skills Issue
22
Establishing a Routine
“That’s enough Tewks,” said my A-ball pitching coach near the end of what was a laborious side session in the bullpen on a hot humid day in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was early in the season it was my “side” day and I was totally frustrated with my results, both during this bullpen and in my first three starts to the season. I was so frustrated that the coach let me throw one more pitch and then told me to sit down so we could talk. I have never forgotten what he said,
“Tewks, I have watched each all three of your pre-game warm-ups and all of your bullpen sessions this season without giving you much if any, feedback, right? I said, “Yeah, I was wondering why you never say anything.” He said his silence was by design, to see if I had a plan or approach to my warm-ups or bullpens, or if I just threw. After some discussion, I realized I just threw with no plan or approach, no real rhyme or reason; a fastball inside, a curveball, another fastball, a change-up etc. All I was trying to do was get loose. No plan. No purpose. The coach said, “Consistent performances on the mound start with consistent approaches and routines in the bullpen and pre-game warm-ups.” He added, when you develop a purpose and a plan your results will change. The coach suggested I revisit my entire approach to pitching starting with what I was going off the field with regard to sleep, nutrition, and conditioning. He stressed each of these areas are building blocks which done consistently over time can yield big results. Secondly, I reviewed my throwing program, specifically as it related to my bullpens. This is when I soon realized there was a difference between “throwing” and “pitching.”
Developing A Consistent Approach
Over the course of the next couple of weeks I solidified my throwing routine by developing a consistent approach each day I threw off the mound. My goal was to have that side work carry over to the game. Unlike most pitchers, I threw my pen on day 3. My bullpen sessions consisted of warming up on the field for about 10 minutes with my the bullpen catcher going out to 120-150 feet for a few long arching throws before he slowly worked his way back in to 60 feet. I then went to the mound. I always starting from the stretch position.
glove side (3-4) pitches, arm side (3-4) pitches (I always made sure the catcher’s body split the middle of the corner of the plate. This made me really focus on getting the pitch to the location I wanted.) I would then go back to glove side up and in (2), arm side up and in (2). Next I would go to my change-up, working in the middle of the plate and down (3-4). Then I would go to the curveball; once again having the catcher set up right down the middle of the plate. My main goal here is to just get a feel for spinning the baseball. I would try to just drop in a curveball for a strike (3-4). Finally, I would go “around the world” working to locate my fastball to key areas; glove side down, glove side up, middle up, arm side down, arm side up, then middle low. I would then go to the windup and repeat the same routine. It would be about 40-45 pitch side with a purpose of emphasizing fastball location from both the stretch and the windup. I repeated this same routine on two days later on game day. I really believe the consistency of this routine helped me establish fastball command, which was imperative to my success.
“Consistent performances on the mound start with consistent approaches and routines in the bullpen and pre-game
warm-ups.”