pitcher ample time to prepare for his next opponent. He can use video and advanced scouting reports to develop a game plan for each hitter he will face. Depending on the outcome of the start, the four days in between outings can be a holiday or a hell for the starting pitcher. What I mean by that is the day after you win a game is like a holiday. There certainly is, “Nothing like being the winning pitcher yesterday.” Workouts in the days between wins are much more fun. But if you didn’t pitch well the four days in between games can be hell. The workouts suck. You replay the game in your head all day wondering what you could have done different or just feeling bad. I finally learned to give myself the 24 hours to have a pity party and then it was time to move forward. My personality (and stuff) was much more suited for being a starting pitcher.
The Bullpen:
Relief pitchers should come to the park each day expecting to pitch. As a result, relievers have modified pregame training routines which get them prepared to pitch that night. Since relievers don’t usually have their “game face” on at 5:00 pm they are much more laid back than the starting pitcher prior to the game. That’s a good thing! It would be mentally exhausting to carry that energy around for that long. It’s when the game starts that the relief pitchers real preparation begins. Each pitcher in the ‘pen knows his role and his preparation is based on the flow of the game. If the starting pitcher struggles early, the “long man” in the pen will start to prepare mentally and physically in the event his is summoned. If the team has a lead and the “set up” man begins his preparation. And of course with a lead, the “closer” starts to get his mind and body ready to seal the win.
Pitching out of the bullpen requires pitchers have a short memory. What I mean by that is, if they have a bad night, they have to forget about it before the next day’s game because they may be right back in there again; that’s the good news for relievers. The other side of this is, at least from a professional standpoint, relief pitchers can get overused during certain times in the season. They may pitch in a game Monday and get up, but not get in the game the next three days. Learning how to deal with getting up and not getting in games is something which takes time to get used to. Pitchers in the bullpen understand how much and how hard they need to throw to get ready to pitch and they are able to deal with this uncertainty by understanding all they can do is be ready to pitch. They can’t control when or for how long they will pitch.
The ultimate goal of a pitcher at any level and any role (starter or reliever) is to get the hitter out. Developing a consistent mental and physical routine for whatever role you are in will help you achieve those goals.
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Bob Tewksbury, Ed.M., CC-AASP is a mental performance coach with the San Francisco Giants Baseball Organization. He won 110 major league games over a 13 year career pitching for the Yankees, Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres and Twins. His best season was in 1992 when he compiled a 16-5 record and was named to the National League All-Star team. Prior to joining the Giants, he worked as a mental skills coach with the Boston Red Sox from 2004-2013 and 2015-16. He obtained his masters in sport psychology and counseling from Boston University (2004) and completed his B.S in Physical Education from St. Leo University (2000). He has provided mental skills training to numerous college teams and athletes in a variety of sports including Division 1 baseball and basketball, Division 3 baseball, men’s hockey and women’s lacrosse