Frosty Microbrews: Berberet Brings Experience, Focus to Bullpen
A few minutes before each Timber Rattlers game, a small group of pitchers and a catcher head out to the bullpen. They'll be out there on their own, several hundred feet from home plate and even further from their coaches, throughout the game. For the wrong group of players it
A few minutes before each Timber Rattlers game, a small group of pitchers and a catcher head out to the bullpen. They'll be out there on their own, several hundred feet from home plate and even further from their coaches, throughout the game. For the wrong group of players it could be an invitation to disengage from the game or take part in some tomfoolery, but veteran catcher-turned-pitcher
"I think you've just got to remember that we're going to be getting called to go into the game and the more that we can pay attention to the hitters on the other team the more we're going to be ready to know their strengths and weaknesses and know how to pitch them when we get into the game," Berberet said. "So really, it's our careers, our stats on the line whether we pay attention or not. So when you put it like that, it makes it pretty straightforward that everyone needs to pay attention and watch the game."
Berberet spent parts of six seasons in the Brewers organization as a catcher before transitioning to the mound in the fall of 2016, and Timber Rattlers pitching coach Steve Cline praised the way Berberet uses that experience to help himself and his teammates.
"If you have new guys in the bullpen then certainly having him, having been a catcher, having spent numerous years catching and/or being in the bullpen, it's invaluable," Cline said. "Those guys need to understand that 'hey, even though we're out here, we're 400 feet away, we still need to watch the ballgame. We can watch swings, we can pay attention to sequences.' So it's invaluable for a guy like that just for the experience of having been there and done that, maybe not from the pitching standpoint, but just from the point of being in the bullpen."
Each day the Timber Rattlers' relief pitchers take a printout of the opposing team's lineup with them to the bullpen to follow along with the game and keep track of what hitters do in their early plate appearances.
"You're reading swings, you're reading how hitters react to certain pitches and certain counts, what our tendencies are towards power hitters, whether starters are throwing a lot of fastballs or throwing inside or not throwing inside. Whether a hitter can hit a breaking ball or struggles with the slider, stuff like that," Berberet said.
When he's been called into the game, Berberet has quickly been able to turn those scouting reports into successful outings. After allowing a home run in his Midwest League and professional pitching debut on April 18 he went more than a month without allowing an earned run, working 17 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings before allowing a solo home run during the final frame of a three-inning save on May 19. In his first nine professional pitching appearances Berberet has a 2.70 ERA over 23 1/3 innings and has struck out 21 batters while issuing just six walks.
Meanwhile, Berberet's habits are rubbing off on his teammates. Pitcher
"I'm kind of new to reading hitters. I've always known how to somewhat pitch a little bit, but Berberet helps us out a lot," Vernon said. "He has more of the feel of what they're doing and gives feedback to us. A lot of us ask questions to him because he's been up to higher levels, he's played at bigger places and he really understands the game a lot. So we kind of just feed off of him and learn from him as much as we learn from the hitters."
Berberet said he shares his scouting reports on opposing hitters with the other pitchers in the bullpen as they're getting ready to go into the game, but what they do with that information is up to them.
"I usually go out whenever we play a new team and I take a little scouting report based off of their first two at-bats. And if a pitcher's going to go into the game, I'll let them know what I have on them. It's there, if they want to use it they can and if not, I have no problem with that either," Berberet said.
Cline said he thinks Berberet's presence and experience in the bullpen has made a difference for the team this season.
"Anything is valuable to help those guys understand that while you're in the bullpen you're still part of the team, you're still watching the game because there are things to learn and there are things that you can pick up regarding the opposition's lineup," Cline said.
The coaching staff doesn't come out to the bullpen during games, so having an experienced player in the bullpen can also help establish a professional culture in what could otherwise be an uncontrolled environment. Vernon said he and his bullpen teammates are "all pretty good together," but acknowledged that Berberet plays a role in keeping the group focused.
"We all kind of have a good idea of what's going on but he definitely kind of keeps us rounded," Vernon said. "He helps us when we're screwing around at times and he keeps us in tact because he's been there, he knows what to do, he knows the ins and outs of everything at this level and the levels above. So we learn a lot from him."
Given the leadership skills and ability to read hitters he's demonstrated this season, it could make sense for Berberet to transition into coaching someday when his playing career is concluded. At this point, however, he's not ready to start thinking that far ahead.
"I'm just more worried about the playing aspect of it now," Berberet said. "I'll worry about that when I'm done playing."