Confusion sets in when its time to throw a bullpen.. The questions become, how many pitches? How many in the stretch and how many in the wind-up? How many fastballs, breaking balls and/or change-ups?
Regardless if your little leaguer only throws out of the wind-up, it is very important to get him used to the stretch. I will quickly discuss a structured 30 pitch bullpen that you can do with your player. This is a very basic structure without any mechanical emphasis. Simply a springboard to help answer the questions above.
After your normal catch play is complete, you would then have your player get loose on the mound, maybe 10 pitches with your catcher standing. Next, you would have the catcher get down and set-up right down the middle. First 10 pitches will be in the stretch, second 10 pitches in the wind-up and third 10 mix back and forth, wind-up and stretch.
- Lets start with 3 fastballs middle
- Next, 3 fastballs away to a right-handed hitter
- Next, 3 fastballs away to a left-handed hitter
- Next, 1 fastball up above a hitters hands
- Total-10 pitches
Remember, all these first 10 pitches in the stretch
- Next, 3 change-ups middle
- Next, 1 fastball away to a right-handed hitter
- Next, 3 change-ups to the arm side (meaning if pitcher is right-handed then its in to a right-handed hitter and away to a left-handed hitter)
- Next, 1 fastball away to a left-handed hitter
- Next, 2 breaking balls opposite arm side (any curve-balls or sliders). So, if your pitcher is right-handed then it would be away to a right-handed hitter and if your pitcher is left-handed then it would be away from a left-handed hitter.
- Total- 10 pitches
Remember, these 10 were done in the wind-up
- -Next, 2 fastballs (one away and one in)
- -Next, 1 breaking ball opposite arm side
- -Next, 1 change-up arm side
- -Next, 1 fastball away to a right-handed hitter
- -Next, 1 breaking ball opposite arm side
- -Next, 1 change-up arm side
- -Next, 2 fastballs (one away and one in)
- -Last pitch, 1 fastball up above hitters hands
Remember the last 10 pitches will be mixed pitch by pitch, wind-up and stretch
30 pitches total:
18 fastballs, 8 change-ups, and 4 breaking balls
There are many different ways to mix up and complete bullpens, this was just one that can help you structure it.
