How to Create a Plan for Bullpens

I have to be honest. As a player I had bullpens from time to time that lacked any resemblance of a plan. I stepped on the mound firing pitch after pitch without focusing on my target, delivery, or anything that would help me as a pitcher.

The sad truth is, this is something that happens to a lot of pitchers. They take about 5 seconds between pitches without focusing on anything. The bullpen is over and they couldn't tell you whether it was good or bad because they had nothing objective to go off of.

When you watch an elite pitcher throw a bullpen, they have a plan and an objective.

So, how can you develop a plan before your bullpen?

The first thing you need to do is decide whether it is an over the rubber or over the plate bullpen. I first heard this idea from Cincinnati Reds pitch coach, Derek Johnson at a conference back in 2017. Hearing this concept was eye opening to me. It was simple, yet powerful.

Let's define these terms.

Over the rubber = focusing on something in the delivery, pre-pitch routine, or developing a pitch

Over the plate = executing pitches - first pitch strikes, simulated hitters, 0-2 counts, etc.

Before you take the mound it should be clear exactly what the focus is going to be. You can either focus on over the rubber or over the plate for the whole bullpen, or you can split it in half. The time of year and the area the pitcher needs to focus on more could play a factor in this decision.

Couple things to remember when doing this:

1. Whichever you decide is the main focus that day needs to stay the main focus.

2. Over the plate bullpens should be competitive and tracked to gauge progress.

3. Don't talk about or focus on pitch execution when you are in a over the rubber bullpen and vice versa.

At the end of the day, it comes down to performance. Having a plan gives you something measurable to base your progress on.

At GSP, we develop a plan for every part of your game and track your progress so that we know where to go next. If you are serious about your development and want to take the next step, click the link below to learn how we can help.

Enjoy the Process,

Jared Gaynor