What is a catchers job in the bullpen at the HS/College level.How involed are they?

No one works harder. And imo no one is more important to the team. It takes a special kind of young man. They are a big part of the team.

Coach May is 100% correct...not all coaches share his wisdom. Very few in fact.

Unfortunately, for all of Coach May's sentiments, it doesn't mean a bullpen catcher will ever see any playing time. Takes a special kid that believes in self sacrifice and the team to be a good bullpen catcher.

They are involved but their opinion rarely gets used as in reality they have no chance to tell the starting catcher what the pitcher (usually relief) was doing in the pen. Sometimes the coaches are able to relay this info to the pitching coach during the pitcher change but rarely in HS/college.

Rarely will you find a kid that loves the game more than a bullpen catcher. They may not always love catching pens but they love the game.

They are so special because they know they will never see the field in a game , they will probably never get an at bat , but they work harder than anyone else on the team. What they do get is the respect of their coaches and team mates. And they are a huge part of the team. They are extremely valuable and I respect the he ll out of the guys that do it.

Bullpen catchers are akin to a scout team in football: they know they won't see the field, but without them, the team would be far, far less prepared.

Good coaches know how to give them the credit they deserve.

I guess my question should be re-worded a bit. When a catcher is warming up a pitcher in the bullpen what do they work on.Are they working to JUST get the pitcher loose?Is the bullpen catcher trying to find out what pitches are working best etc..

I agree with everything said about a bullpen catcher. I say that because at one time many many moons ago I was one in college. I think my butt saw more baseball games than my eyes did.

Anyway back to your question I think that a lot of it depends on several variables.

First - if the coach actually wants the catcher's point of view. Some might ask them what's working and what's not or where he's struggling. But some may never speak the first word to the bullpen catcher.

Second - is the bullpen catcher someone who knows the game or not. If the catcher has a clue then the coach / pitcher / starting catcher better be smart enough to go talk to him. If he's clueless and his job is to let the ball him in the chest, pick it up and throw it back then the coach might need to spend some time with him and teach.

I've always done this - if I had a BP catcher who had a clue then I would listen to him and watch the first inning to see if what he saw is what's happening and go from there. But if it's a younger guy then I try to treat it as a teaching moment. Ask him what was working and what wasn't and make him think some. If you do that then if that younger BP catcher moves up to varsity they will be more inclined to listen / help teach the new BP catcher.

As for the catcher himself this is a great opportunity to get better. He can work on blocking, framing, position 1 / 2, footwork on coming out throwing and several other things. If the kid goes down to the pen and catches it and throws it back then he's wasting his time.

Use it as an opportunity to get better.

"I think my butt saw more games than my eyes did".

Amen..spoken like a true bullpen rat.

Saw alot of the games until the 6-7th inning then it was time to warm up the relief guys. Best part of the job was the BS that was shot by everybody.You had to stay on your toes and never take anything personal because it could get brutal.

Lodi, a catcher (starter/bullpen/benchboy) never has time to really waste; just too many skills involved in the position not to be working at every opportunity. Never saw a lazy bullpen catcher get into a game...really never saw a lazy bullpen catcher to start with.

Lodi- since you re-phrased your question, let me give you some things to consider while working in the bullpen. First of all, the bullpen is where you get to practice your craft, at game speed. This is why it is so important for ALL catchers to catch pens, not just the 2nd or 3rd string catchers. All of my catching students, as well as catchers on my team, catch pens on a regular basis. Here is what I ask all of them to work on...

• Work on your receiving, body shift, etc.
  
• Move in and out with pitcher working in regular stance and on-base stance
  
• BLOCK EVERYTHING! Every pitch that is bounced should be blocked!
  
• Ask the pitcher to mix in his 0-2 curveball in the dirt!
  
• Work on your footwork to second and your transfer, but DO NOT throw it at the pitcher like you are throwing it to 2nd base!
  
• Work on your drop step going to 3rd base.
  
• Also, work on pitch-outs, this is something that is rarely practiced but so effective!
  
• Lastly, develop a relationship with EVERY pitcher on your staff!
  

Hope this information helps!

Coach Fletcher

www.macatchers.com
www.aacc.edu/athletics/dfletcher.cfm