Infield warm-up during pitching change

[Mike Prince]

With R1, the defense makes a pitching change.  Multiple position changes are also made and as a result we have a new F3.  Defensive coach tosses a ball out into the infield and tells his infielders to warm up F3.

 

I don't have my FED rulebook handy, but legal or not?

 

I shut this down last night and when questioned by the DM, I used R1 as the reason why in lieu of a specific rule cite.  I looked in the FED case book and it addresses hitting balls to the infield or outfield during a pitcher's warmup, but not the situation above.

[JaxRolo]

I would leave it alone. Seen it many times. Runners just need to move a few steps to get out of the way for a minute.

[Mike Prince]

Yeah in hindsight I should have let it go.  Just one of those things that I don't remember ever seeing and when I told them no something didn't feel right.  Live and learn...

[BigUmpire]

The problem I have with this is when the pitcher is ready to go are you trying to get the practice ball off of the field that has been thrown into left field OR does the pitcher get interupted or hit with a throw.

I woulkd say no.

[Mike Prince]

The problem I have with this is when the pitcher is ready to go are you trying to get the practice ball off of the field that has been thrown into left field OR does the pitcher get interupted or hit with a throw.

I woulkd say no.

 

How's this different from between innings warm-ups?  I could just tell the pitcher he has two more and then tell the catcher to yell "Balls in".

[bam]

I let that go. If you have to look that hard for a rule, and it's something as inconsequential as this, I'm not making waves. I've had it happen a couple times, and have made a note to look it up. Alas, the beers prevented me from doing so.

[Mike Prince]

I let that go. If you have to look that hard for a rule, and it's something as inconsequential as this, I'm not making waves. I've had it happen a couple times, and have made a note to look it up. Alas, the beers prevented me from doing so.

 

Yeah, that's why I waited till this morning LOL.

 

Agree this was booger-picking on my part.

[JaxRolo]

 

I let that go. If you have to look that hard for a rule, and it's something as inconsequential as this, I'm not making waves. I've had it happen a couple times, and have made a note to look it up. Alas, the beers prevented me from doing so.

 

Yeah, that's why I waited till this morning LOL.

 

Agree this was booger-picking on my part.

 

 

Don't let it happen again!  

[BigUmpire]

 

The problem I have with this is when the pitcher is ready to go are you trying to get the practice ball off of the field that has been thrown into left field OR does the pitcher get interupted or hit with a throw.

I woulkd say no.

 

How's this different from between innings warm-ups?  I could just tell the pitcher he has two more and then tell the catcher to yell "Balls in".

 

Just more non playing time.

[maven]

FED 10.2.3 prohibits batting balls to warm up fielders while F1 warms up. Throwing a ball around the infield is legal.

 

If R1 doesn't move, the BU should invite him to step aside.

[johnnyg08]

they just can't hit baseballs to the players.  they can play catch and roll grounders while the pitcher is warming up.

[maven]

Just more non playing time.

While I share this concern and advise newer umpires to enforce the rules limiting non-playing time, I don't think the worry necessarily comes into play here.

 

The new F1 gets his warm-up pitches, and that takes some time. Within limits, I don't care what the other fielders are doing during that time, but they WILL be done with it when we're ready to go.

[zm1283]

 

Just more non playing time.

While I share this concern and advise newer umpires to enforce the rules limiting non-playing time, I don't think the worry necessarily comes into play here.

 

The new F1 gets his warm-up pitches, and that takes some time. Within limits, I don't care what the other fielders are doing during that time, but they WILL be done with it when we're ready to go.

 

 

 

Exactly.  When there are two pitches left, just tell the fielders to throw the ball in and tell the offensive players who are over talking to their 3B coach that we're about ready to go. That will get them moving.

[Minnz]

Runners usually aren't an issue.  Most head coaches will call their runners over to the 3b coaching box.  Let them warm up, warm arms=better throws to 1B=more outs.

[mstaylor]

I have allowed it for years, the last time was Monday. I had two LL ADAs that insisted it wasn't allowed and that I had to stop it. I told them to look it up and show me where it is illegal and I would stop it. They never did show it to me. As already noted I tell everybody two more, that gets the ball back in, the runners back on bases and the three knucklehead outfielders that are meeting in centerfield back in position. Never have figured out the reason for the centerfield meeting. 

[JHSump]

Never have figured out the reason for the centerfield meeting. 

Maybe they just feel left out.  Everyone else gets to meet at the mound, or throw balls around.  They get together to support each other.  Hmm... makes me think of umpires.  Suddenly I have a whole new perspective on outfielders.

[phillyr121]

If these new players came off the bench to play the infield. I would think they need some ample time to warm the arms up a bit. If runners are on base I'd ask them to move away and let them warm up. It is not giving the defense an advantage. 

[Jimurray]

I regret perusing the rules interps and am not happy I came up with this 2006 interp:

SITUATION 10: Coach of Team A requests and is granted time for a defensive charged conference. As he goes to the mound to talk with his pitcher, he tosses a ball to his third baseman and tells him to begin warming up with his shortstop in case he is needed to pitch. The coach leaves the mound without removing the pitcher. RULING: This is not allowed. A charged conference permits a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players but does not permit any warm-up pitches by a player who is not the pitcher. (3-4-1)

[zm1283]

I regret perusing the rules interps and am not happy I came up with this 2006 interp:

SITUATION 10: Coach of Team A requests and is granted time for a defensive charged conference. As he goes to the mound to talk with his pitcher, he tosses a ball to his third baseman and tells him to begin warming up with his shortstop in case he is needed to pitch. The coach leaves the mound without removing the pitcher. RULING: This is not allowed. A charged conference permits a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players but does not permit any warm-up pitches by a player who is not the pitcher. (3-4-1)

They aren't warmup pitches. They're just playing catch.

[JaxRolo]

I regret perusing the rules interps and am not happy I came up with this 2006 interp: SITUATION 10: Coach of Team A requests and is granted time for a defensive charged conference. As he goes to the mound to talk with his pitcher, he tosses a ball to his third baseman and tells him to begin warming up with his shortstop in case he is needed to pitch. The coach leaves the mound without removing the pitcher. RULING: This is not allowed. A charged conference permits a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players but does not permit any warm-up pitches by a player who is not the pitcher. (3-4-1)

They aren't warmup pitches. They're just playing catch. I agree

[VAUmp]

I regret perusing the rules interps and am not happy I came up with this 2006 interp:

SITUATION 10: Coach of Team A requests and is granted time for a defensive charged conference. As he goes to the mound to talk with his pitcher, he tosses a ball to his third baseman and tells him to begin warming up with his shortstop in case he is needed to pitch. The coach leaves the mound without removing the pitcher. RULING: This is not allowed. A charged conference permits a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players but does not permit any warm-up pitches by a player who is not the pitcher. (3-4-1)

 

 

What would the penalty be?

[Jimurray]

I regret perusing the rules interps and am not happy I came up with this 2006 interp:

SITUATION 10: Coach of Team A requests and is granted time for a defensive charged conference. As he goes to the mound to talk with his pitcher, he tosses a ball to his third baseman and tells him to begin warming up with his shortstop in case he is needed to pitch. The coach leaves the mound without removing the pitcher. RULING: This is not allowed. A charged conference permits a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players but does not permit any warm-up pitches by a player who is not the pitcher. (3-4-1)

 

 

What would the penalty be?

If I would ever actually hear a coach say this I wouldn't be concerned with a penalty and would allow playing catch. However it would put you on alert to not let the coach stall at the mound before making a pitching change.

[BT_Blue]

Never have figured out the reason for the centerfield meeting.

Maybe they just feel left out.  Everyone else gets to meet at the mound, or throw balls around.  They get together to support each other.  Hmm... makes me think of umpires.  Suddenly I have a whole new perspective on outfielders.

I'm going with "misery needs company." It fets boring out there!

[mstaylor]

There was a whole discussion about this a few years ago in college. There was a D1 school that the F5 was also a relief pitcher. They would let him throw to a teammate during mound visits so he was warm. Nothing was ever done about it, including in post season. 

[Stan W.]

There was a whole discussion about this a few years ago in college. There was a D1 school that the F5 was also a relief pitcher. They would let him throw to a teammate during mound visits so he was warm. Nothing was ever done about it, including in post season. 

 wasn't that Huston Street?