Pitcher Substitutions

[Mad Mike]

NFHS & OBR

Question came up about pitching substitutions at a meeting. 

SITUATION: Second Inning, manager comes out to the umpire, states he wants to switch pitcher and first baseman for the batter coming to the plate. The new pitcher strikes out the batter. The manager then comes back out and tells the umpire he wants to change them back.

How many times in that 1/2 inning are we going to allow the pitcher to switch with a fielder and then switch back?

If anyone has a rule cite for both codes, it would be appreciated.

[Senor Azul]

2019 NFHS rule 3-1 ART. 2 . . . If a pitcher is replaced while his team is on defense, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute for that batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until a third out has been made. To ensure that the requirements of this article be fulfilled, the umpire will deny any coach-defensive player conference that will violate the rule. If a pitcher is incapacitated or guilty of flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, this rule is ignored. 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. If the pitcher, because of an injury or being incapacitated, is replaced as pitcher and the above rule is not satisfied, or if his replacement requires more warm-up throws than permitted in 6-2-2 exception, he cannot return to the game as a pitcher.

2002 NFHS Baseball Rule Interpretations 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)

Also see current case book plays 3.1.2 Situation B and C.

[Senor Azul]

Here’s how the 2018 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual explains OBR rule 5.10(d) Comment—

Under the Casebook Comment to Official Baseball Rule 5.10(d), a pitcher may change to a defensive position other than pitcher only once an inning. In other words, a pitcher may change to another defensive position and then return to the mound during the same inning, but after so doing he may not leave the mound again in that inning (unless, of course, he is removed from the game). If such pitcher returns to the mound during the same inning, he is allowed the usual eight (or as many or few complying with the inning break or pitching change time limits set forth in the Pace of Game Regulations) warm-up pitches…

Similarly, a player who plays a position(s) other than pitcher in an inning may substitute for a pitcher once, and then play any position other than pitcher afterwards in the same inning—in this case, the fielder would not be allowed to return as the pitcher for the remainder of that inning. Finally, keep in mind that Rule 5.10(g) applies to such pitching changes, such that if the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher must pitch to the batter then at bat until an out is recorded or the batter reaches base safely, unless the substitute pitcher incurs an incapacitating injury.

[maven]

Note that the FED rule limits F1 to "removed AND returned" once per inning. There's a case play where the starter is removed twice in an inning, but returned just the once (and cannot return again).

Also note that players switching position does not count as leaving the game, and neither must give up re-entry to make these switches.

[Senor Azul]

As you are wont to say, Mr. maven, “c’mon, man!” What case play are you citing? I already cited the only two I could find in the 2019 FED case book. A proper citation allows us, the readers, to be able to find the case play and read it. You just left us hanging.

And what do you mean when you say the mystery case play tells us the pitcher cannot return? To pitching in that particular inning or in the game? Perhaps you are thinking of the case play that I already posted and you just didn’t read it?