Pitch counts "restart" on resumed postponed games - high school

[McMike]

Hi.  If a game is resumed on another day after being postponed, does the pitcher's count continue from wherever it was when the original game stopped (i.e. the game was frozen and continues exactly where it was)?

My understanding is that the pitch count, as a safety rule, in fact exists on the day-to-day calendar alone, regardless of whether a game is new or resumed or whatever.  So, whether the game is resumed the next day or the next month, the pitcher's status depends on what he did the previous day(s).  If the game is day ago or a month ago, his pitch count for that day (and thus for that game) starts at zero that day either way.

I can understand a complaint about "fairness" if a postponement gives a fresh count for a hot pitcher.  But that's how it goes, right?

I can't find any rules on this.

High school NFHS. Colorado CHSAA.

[MadMax]

Disclaimer: I’m not a state RI, or an administrator of officiating; I’m a mere umpire. 

With that said, you’re partly right, but not quite. The pitch count by a pitcher is tiered, with X number of pitches requiring Y amount of days (calendar days) of rest. Each (new) day doesn’t see his count zeroed; instead, it’s the number of days removed that zeroes his count. 

So, say pitcher Pete throws 80 pitches thru 6 innings, and it’s a 1-1 ballgame, on Tuesday, the 1st. His state requires 5 days rest once past 75 pitches*. The game is suspended, and slated to resume… 

• On Friday, the 4th. Pete cannot pitch, because it hasn’t been 5 days removed. 
• On Tuesday, the 8th. Pete can pitch, because it’s been 7 days since Pete’s last appearance. Now, if Pete throws only 20 more pitches on this game, his pitch count is 20… which means that if Pete has a scheduled start for Thursday, the 10th, he could start that game, too, because he hasn’t exceeded the state’s next threshold – 36 pitches* → 2 days rest. 
• On Friday, the 11th. Pete might be eligible to pitch, but that hinges on his game on Tuesday, the 8th. If he started, and threw less than 36 pitches, he’s eligible. If, however, he threw 55 pitches*, he wouldn’t be, because the next tier of rest requires 4 days rest. 

See the difference? 
And this is why umpires should not be aware of or administering pitch counts. 
 

* - I have no knowledge of specifics; I am using typical numbers just for examples. 

[McMike]

3 hours ago, MadMax said:

See the difference? 
And this is why umpires should not be aware of or administering pitch counts. 
 

* - I have no knowledge of specifics; I am using typical numbers just for examples. 

Thank you.  I should clarify, I understand that the pitch count rest rules are what they are no matter what.  If you threw x pitches yesterday, then you have to take y days of rest.

My question was, if you have a postponed game for weather, and the pitcher was at, say, 90 pitches, then three weeks later the game is resumed, and he hasn't pitched for a week:  then does he start with 90 pitches for purposes of the resumed game?  The distinction is important because in the original suspended game, he was 20 pitches away from reaching the daily max.  Instead now he has a fresh 110 pitches and can pitch much longer?

[DevildogUmp]

For high school, this would be a question for your state office as that is who creates the pitch count/rest rules. NFHS leaves pitch counts/rest requirements to the individual states. In Indiana, umpires do not have anything to do with pitch counts and have been told to direct coaches/ADs with pitch count concerns to the state office.

I can tell you that other organizations that use pitch count, it is all about days rest prior to the restart. So, if the pitcher of record in the suspended game pitches and hits a rest requirement the day before the resumed game, he is now ineligible to pitch due to rest requirements. If he has not pitched in a week, it is a new day and he goes from zero in the resumed game.

[McMike]

27 minutes ago, DevildogUmp said:

For high school, this would be a question for your state office as that is who creates the pitch count/rest rules. NFHS leaves pitch counts/rest requirements to the individual states. In Indiana, umpires do not have anything to do with pitch counts and have been told to direct coaches/ADs with pitch count concerns to the state office.

I can tell you that other organizations that use pitch count, it is all about days rest prior to the restart. So, if the pitcher of record in the suspended game pitches and hits a rest requirement the day before the resumed game, he is now ineligible to pitch due to rest requirements. If he has not pitched in a week, it is a new day and he goes from zero in the resumed game.

Thanks.  Yes, in CO the rules explicitly state that umpires do not have pitch count responsibility. 

I was hoping there's a rules geek hanging out here, who could point me to the text.  Because I do not find it anywhere in writing, yet I feel like it would come up frequently, like almost every time they replay a game.

I'll reach out to the state.

[johnnyg08]

I have some insight on this. 

I suppose it varies state by state...but it probably shouldn't. 

Hypothetically, let's stay the F1 in the game gets pulled in the 6th inning after hitting his max pitch could of 100 (or whatever it is) 

Then the game is suspended and they decide to finish the game in two weeks. 

Based on the state's pitch count rules, and assuming that the starting F1 from two weeks ago is eligible by substitution playing rules to come back and pitch, he could return to pitch in that resumed game and throw another 100 pitches. 

The pitch count rules are separate from the other playing/substitution rules. I hope that helps. 

[orangebird]

26 minutes ago, McMike said:

Thank you.  I should clarify, I understand that the pitch count rest rules are what they are no matter what.  If you threw x pitches yesterday, then you have to take y days of rest.

My question was, if you have a postponed game for weather, and the pitcher was at, say, 90 pitches, then three weeks later the game is resumed, and he hasn't pitched for a week:  then does he start with 90 pitches for purposes of the resumed game?  The distinction is important because in the original suspended game, he was 20 pitches away from reaching the daily max.  Instead now he has a fresh 110 pitches and can pitch much longer?

I don't work HS but the fairness concern isn't something I'd worry about because the rules (or lack thereof) will apply for both teams, if team A gets a fresh 90 pitches from their ace because of rain then so could team B

[johnnyg08]

8 minutes ago, orangebird said:

I don't work HS but the fairness concern isn't something I'd worry about because the rules (or lack thereof) will apply for both teams, if team A gets a fresh 90 pitches from their ace because of rain then so could team B

Exactly.

[McMike]

11 hours ago, orangebird said:

I don't work HS but the fairness concern isn't something I'd worry about because the rules (or lack thereof) will apply for both teams, if team A gets a fresh 90 pitches from their ace because of rain then so could team B

This is a good point.  However, of course, when one coach has a weaker pitching staff, he doesn't see it this way.

What I am looking for though, is where the rule book says this in writing.   It's always much simpler to just whip out the rule book and point to it, rather than argue with a bunch of people who haven't actually read the rules and remember something incorrect from twenty years ago.  I will contact the state office. Thanks.

[McMike]

11 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

The pitch count rules are separate from the other playing/substitution rules. I hope that helps. 

This is my understanding also, and makes sense.  What surprised me was that it is not in writing anywhere that I could find.

[noumpere]

5 minutes ago, McMike said:

 

What I am looking for though, is where the rule book says this in writing.   It's always much simpler to just whip out the rule book and point to it, rather than argue with a bunch of people who haven't actually read the rules and remember something incorrect from twenty years ago.  I will contact the state office. Thanks.

Since this rule varies by state, you won’t find it in the rule book. 

[Velho]

37 minutes ago, McMike said:

I will contact the state office.

Do that of course, but...

 

37 minutes ago, McMike said:

What I am looking for though, is where the rule book says this in writing.   It's always much simpler to just whip out the rule book and point to it

In the meantime, you can hang your hat on the fact that the guidelines are pitches PER DAY not game. See page 12 of your state bulletin (yes from 2023 but that's latest published (or posted online at least).

https://chsaanow.com/documents/2023/1/18/2022_2023_Baseball_Bulletin_FINAL.pdf

[johnnyg08]

1 hour ago, McMike said:

This is my understanding also, and makes sense.  What surprised me was that it is not in writing anywhere that I could find.

Because it's not really a playing rule and if it's not stated as illegal, then it's legal 

[beerguy55]

On 4/6/2025 at 8:23 AM, McMike said:

This is a good point.  However, of course, when one coach has a weaker pitching staff, he doesn't see it this way.

I believe this falls under the "SH*# happens" rule.

The key is it is applied fairly to both teams, and it can work in either team's favor, or detriment. 

Let's say said star pitcher was only at 40 pitches when the game suspended, was throwing a perfect game, and then when game resumes you don't have to face him because he pitched yesterday (a perfect game btw).  That would be sweet, wouldn't it?

Or let's say you couldn't start your best pitcher in the original game because he had pitched the previous day, but now you can put him in the resumed game.

Regardless, the rule is about the calendar, not the game.  It's there to protect the pitcher, not the team he is facing.

Likewise, a player who was hurt for the original game can now enter the lineup in the resumed game.  A player who was in the original game, but has since been suspended, cannot play in the resumed game.

There are many lineup quirks that come up in resumed games, and the outcomes even out in the wash.

Complaining because you're getting the short end of the stick, this time, won't win you any favors or respect.