When should a relief pitcher warm up

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Jun 6, 2016
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Unless she was specifically told either "Warm up in inning X" or "You're pitching in inning Y," I don't see how she magically should've known this. Or maybe if it's a known thing that pitchers on the bench are supposed to do some kind of routine.

Sounds like none of that from the OP though, so I guess your DD's only mistake was not being The Amazing Kreskin.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
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3. Major league pitchers don't randomly warm up during games just in case.... they are told. So we hold 14u players to higher standards than that?
Perhaps pro coaching may include higher standards to a coaches ability.
Planning
Facilitating type things.
Certainly recruitment.

IMO the situation in travel ball, Youth Sports even high schools,
is a situation where the parents, players and coach's have to distinguish for themselves the level of competence of the other.

Makes it even more important for the individual to be paying attention to thinking things through... seeking out the best Education and Training we can and applying ourselves.
In this way we become our best Advocate, our strongest cheerleader and develop as individuals to the best of our abilities.

Not be held back by the inability of others.
 
Jul 22, 2015
851
93
Unless she was specifically told either "Warm up in inning X" or "You're pitching in inning Y," I don't see how she magically should've known this. Or maybe if it's a known thing that pitchers on the bench are supposed to do some kind of routine.

Sounds like none of that from the OP though, so I guess your DD's only mistake was not being The Amazing Kreskin.
Coach didn't communicate well, but if you're the only pitcher on the bench and the starter is in trouble then you need to get warm. I've always told my pitchers that if they are sitting then they need to warm up (at least a little) when they no longer feel ready to pitch after the initial team warm up.
 
Jul 19, 2021
630
93
Coach didn't communicate well, but if you're the only pitcher on the bench and the starter is in trouble then you need to get warm. I've always told my pitchers that if they are sitting then they need to warm up (at least a little) when they no longer feel ready to pitch after the initial team warm up.
they will have thrown 400 pitches a game and never even entered.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
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113
See times coaches will have their pitchers warm up at the beginning of the day of 3 friendlies. One pitcher gets to pitch first game,
Yet don't have others go throw any pitches in between/befor next games.

WHAT? YIKES!!! 🤯

I always tell my catchers to get some throws in from their catching position before games.
Thats a tip!
ZAP 💪🫀
 
Jul 22, 2015
851
93
they will have thrown 400 pitches a game and never even entered.
Not at all. Never said they needed to throw every inning or anything close to that. If they warmed up to some degree prior to the game they probably need about 10-15 pitches to be ready. Assuming they may be the reliever for 2 or 3 games that's an extra 50 pitches max for a weekend. If the coach communicates well it will be even less than that.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Coach didn't communicate well, but if you're the only pitcher on the bench and the starter is in trouble then you need to get warm. I've always told my pitchers that if they are sitting then they need to warm up (at least a little) when they no longer feel ready to pitch after the initial team warm up.

But see, the key is you've communicated that ahead of time. There's a specific, standing instruction: "Warm up if your body tells you need it." You're trusting them to know their bodies, but you've still told them when to warm up.

This coach apparently hasn't done anything like that, and it's really not fair to expect players to act independently when we spend so much time trying to get them to get with our program as coaches.
 
Jun 27, 2021
418
63
they will have thrown 400 pitches a game and never even entered.
Other ways to stay loose and ready. Bands, stretching, jogs, accelerator, spinner...not each warmup has to be live bullpen. If a kid is engaged in the game even at 14U they should probably have the knowledge to go ahead and start some form of getting ready.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
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Unfortunately the level of coaches coaching these young humans is all over the place. There are emotional flare-ups instability rage
finger-pointing and blame. While some other coaches approach it completely opposite . Youngsters recognize differences just like they do teachers at school. Why would a young person step out on their own knowing they've already experienced seeing the controlling style coach?
Even the coach who says nothing is doing nothing.
I am all for self leadership and individuals paying attention and applying ourselves!!!
At some point unfortunately asking a young person to possibly be insubordinate/or take the lead to an adult human (who has no clue), can put the player in a hard place.
Even though what the player is doing may actually be the right thing!

Like when catcher's throw the ball on a runner stealing and it's absolutely the right thing to do. But there is no player at the bag yet and coach blames the catcher for throwing it instead of teach the defense to get there.
 
Last edited:

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
I remember speaking to a coach he approached me about his players being more reactive by themselves in the game. Like the Outfield adjusting to bigger or smaller hitters coming in or moving back. He was yelling at his players bark bark bark. He said why do I have to keep doing this? I said do you wave your hand in front of your face when you want them to come in he said yes. I said do you wave your hand behind your head when you want them to move back he said yes.
I said so basically you've trained them to react to you. They are waiting for you to tell them what to do.
Stop controlling them.
Tell them you want them to start doing it on their own! Respect them and give them the responsibility to do it for themselves!
 

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