Rule 3.1.2 (pitcher to position player)

[Dean]

OK The FED rule states:."A player may be removed as pitcher and returned as pitcher only once per inning, provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or charged conference rule

My Question is how many players may do this "once per inning"?  May the 1st baseman move to pitcher (F1 & F3 Flip flop positions), then after facing a batter the second baseman then come in to pitch (f1 and f4 switch positions).

Whereas the OBR rule states:

Rule 5.10 (d)  (older rules books:  3.03 Comment):
A pitcher may change to another position only once during the same inning; e.g. the pitcher will not be allowed to assume a position other than a pitcher more than once in the same inning.

[noumpere]

 

My Question is how many players may do this "once per inning"?

 

​However many are on the roster.  So, if you had a roster of 18, you could have 36 "pitchers" in one inning.

[Dean]

Just got a reply from the IHSAA Baseball director

 

the pitcher who starts the inning, can switch positions with any player and return as a pitcher in that same inning after the pitching requirement has been met, anything more than that would not be permitted.

So the answer to your question is that multiple players are not allowed to do this.

Thanks,

Roger

[maven]

The way I see this rule misinterpreted is that the umpire thinks a player may DEPART as pitcher once per inning, and he disallows his return. The rule permits a pitcher to RETURN once each inning to pitch. For example:

Jones and Smith are both in the game on defense, one pitching, one F7. Jones (RHP) pitches to B1 (RH batter). B1 reaches. Smith (LHP) now comes in to pitch to B2 (LH batter), whom he retires, 1 out. Jones returns to pitch to B3 (RH batter), whom he retires, 2 outs. Smith returns to pitch to B4 (LH batter), whom he retires, 3 outs.

These switches are all legal, none is a substitution, and there is no impact on either player's eligibility to pitch later in the game. Jones returned once to pitch to B3; when Smith returned to pitch to B4, Jones became ineligible to pitch again that inning (so if B4 had reached, Jones could not have come in to pitch to B5).

Smith also returned once: his initial entry to pitch was NOT a return to the mound (in the inning). Smith's return is the one some umpire want to disallow.

That's also a really long inning.

[noumpere]

Just got a reply from the IHSAA Baseball director

 

 

the pitcher who starts the inning, can switch positions with any player and return as a pitcher in that same inning after the pitching requirement has been met, anything more than that would not be permitted.

So the answer to your question is that multiple players are not allowed to do this.

Thanks,

Roger

 

​Well, I suppose you should follow what your state director says, even if what he says is contrary to the rule.

 

Here's an interp that shows that two pitchers can make this move (similar to Maven's post above):

 

SITUATION 17: May a pitcher be removed and return to pitch in the same inning? RULING: If a pitcher is removed from the game, his re-entry is governed by the substitution rule. A player may be removed as pitcher and return as pitcher once per inning, provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or charged-conference rule. If the starting pitcher and the first baseman switch defensive positions, the starting pitcher may return to pitch in the same inning provided the batter the first baseman faced is put out or reaches first base and also provided the first baseman did not require more than eight warm-up pitches. The original starting pitcher could then face the next batter until that batter is out or reaches first base and then again trade places with the first baseman. At that point, the starting pitcher could not return to pitch again until the next inning. If the first baseman were removed as a pitcher the second time in the inning, he could not return to pitch until the next inning as well. (3-1-1, 3-1-2, 3-1-2 note)

Edited June 4, 2015 by noumpere

[maven]

​Well, I suppose you should follow what your state director says, even if what he says is contrary to the rule.

​I think he might have misinterpreted the question to mean: how many times may THIS player return to the mound to pitch. The example in the OP seems to switch F1 with F3 and back, then F1 and F4. After the second switch, since the original F1 has already pitched, switched out, and returned, he may not return again in the inning. If that's what the OP is asking, then the SI's answer is right.

That's not quite how you or I interpreted the question.

[Dean]

Oh I am sorry - I think the the states rules guy may have not understood my poor wording as well.  So starting F1 (Abel) pitches to one batter in the inning and retires him;  then Abel and F3 switches (f3=Bart),  Bart is now pitching and retires a batter, Bart then changes positions with F4 (Charles) who pitches and is hit for a home run.  Charles now switches with F8 (Dan) who gets the third out. 

I assume that is all legal, 

Now Dan is the pitcher of record, prior to warm ups Abel could begin the next inning and we could do it all over again - is that correct?

[noumpere]

All that is legal, and they could do it all again the next inning.

 

Heck, if Dan didn't get the out, Abel could come back in and give up a hit, Bart could replace him and walk a batter, Charles could come in a hit a batter, and then Dan could return and get the third out.

[Dean]

Thanks - I was sure it was all OK, but wanted to check with the smarter ones than me on the board.

 

[noumpere]

but wanted to check with the smarter ones than me on the board.

 

​OH -- then I apologize for answering. 

[maven]

​OH -- then I apologize for answering. 

​No hindrance = no INT