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23 replies

When does a pitcher become pitcher of record.

D dwill6413100+ posts
We had a game the other night, the opposing teams starter threw 4 innings. Coming back for the 5th a new pitcher for the team came out, he picked up the ball and toed the rubber to start his warm up pitches. The coach came running out and called for the starter out of center field and handed him the ball. He starts throwing warmups. I then approached the umpire and questioned the whole thing. I told the umpire that I beleived the rule was if a pitcher came out and picked up the ball and walked onto the mound he becomes the pitcher of record. The home plate ump confered with the field judge and they made the previous pitcher pitch and the starter had to go back to center. The rule in our league is once a pitcher is pulled he cannot reenter the game as a pitcher....did I get away with one here. It worked the ump sided with me. Thats a first.....lol
Get a good pitch to hit!!!!
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PF Pirate Fan100+ posts
You did not get away with one, but your reasoning is incorrect.
First of all High School rules allows the pitcher to be removed and re-entered as pitcher provided he doesnot leave the game. Thus because of you "local" rule what you did was correct.
The real issue is that once a pitcher a relief pitcher enters the game (this occurs once the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate)he must pitch to a batter.
Winning and losing pitchers: Starting pitcher has pitched the 1st 4 innings. Therefore, regardless of what happened the "Pitcher of Record" was the starting pitcher since he pitched 4 innings.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
No, this is actually two separate issues, by calling this thread the pitcher of record is kind of misleading.

The pitcher of record for a win/loss would be the pitcher on which the runs were scored. In your example if a pitcher had a bad first and left the game losing, he would be on the hook for the loss.

This thread is about who is now officially recognized as the pitcher in the game.
Last edited by piaa_ump
D dwill6413100+ posts
PiaUmp, thats exactly the issue, the other coach argued the the pitcher has to throw a warm up pitch before he is recognized as the new pitcher, my agrgument was he picked up the ball and toed the rubber, he is now the pitcher and the previous pitcher cannot return. Was I right according to my league rules.
The other team was winning, the other pitcher coudnt break a pane of glass but was effective because everypitch was a rainbow. I wanted a new look for my hitters and the other coach realized this. We both were jockying. By the way we did end up losing but ended up hitting the new pitcher pretty hard and scored about 6 runs on him in one inning but came up a little short.....lol, thats baseball.
Last edited by dwill6413
D dwill6413100+ posts
Jeff, your starting to sound like Bill Clinton. Taking a position is just that, taking a position. It doesnt require an action on the players part. All he has to do is take his postion on the mound with ball in hand, standing on the rubber waiting for catcher, to begin warmups. He has taken the position of pitcher, therefore he has to pitch to at least one batter in the inning but the previous starter cannot return. Case closed....thanks UMPS for all the info.
Last edited by dwill6413
AU AZ ump10+ posts
Gents, you are all correct and you are also wrong pertaining to when the pitcher actually is in the game. While the NFHS rule book does state the substitute pitcher has entered the game when the pitcher takes his place on the pitchers plate when the ball is alive. However, what was not mentioned in this situation the ball was not live, so therefore the substitution has not officiallty taken place. And the starting pitcher should be allowed to retake the mound. 3.1.c and the note.
JC Jeff Connell100+ posts
So if a player walks by and picks up the ball to give it to the pitcher while on the mound does he become the pitcher? Let's go make the call. It has to be one way or the other.
I am a rules stickler but that rule does not apply until he does something to become the pitcher. Standing on a mound with a ball in the hand does not make him a pitcher until he pitches.
B bluezebra100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Connell:
I will agree with you and I teach my players this. But the definite rule is that they have to throw a pitch or tell the umpire to become the pitcher.


Coach, don't interpret the rules.

FED: 3.1.1...a substitute has entered the game when the ball is alive and:
b.a pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate.

There is nothing about having to throw a warmup pitch. Or having to report.
Last edited by bluezebra
PF Pirate Fan100+ posts
Bluezebra;

You are 100% correct. The key to this is when the ball is live. The original post makes reference to the change occuring bewteen innings. The ball is dead.
So if a player picks up the ball, toes the rubber and then give the ball to the pitcher, that player who picked up the ball is not the pitcher since the ball was dead. Therefore, the only way to determine that a new pitcher is in the game is when he takes a warm-up pitch.
PF Pirate Fan100+ posts
dwill6413,

That is correct. When a pitcher takes his warm up pitches the ball is dead.

Therefore, think about this. When a new pitcher enters the game, and he is taking his warm-up pitches, he then becomes the next pitcher. Once the relief pitcher starts to warm up there is no going back. That pitcher, once the ball is in play must face one batter.

If you go to the mound and stand on the rubber with the ball in your hand in between innings, this does not make you the next pitcher. The rule reads. "When the ball is live anda pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate.

And that is only refer to an unannouced substitution.
Last edited by Pirate Fan
PF Pirate Fan100+ posts
Bluezebra;

Think about what you just said.

At the end of the 3rd inning, Player A comes out to the mound and throws 3 warm-up pitches, the coach changes his mind and has Player B come to the mound and throws 2 warm-up pitches, and then the coach decides to put Player C on the mound and he throws 3 warm-up pitches. And in theory, Player D can come in and stand on the rubber when you are ready to put the ball into play and he would be the pitcher.

If you are the umpire are you going to allow this to happen. I hope not.
B bluezebra100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Pirate Fan:
Bluezebra;

Think about what you just said.

At the end of the 3rd inning, Player A comes out to the mound and throws 3 warm-up pitches, the coach changes his mind and has Player B come to the mound and throws 2 warm-up pitches, and then the coach decides to put Player C on the mound and he throws 3 warm-up pitches. And in theory, Player D can come in and stand on the rubber when you are ready to put the ball into play and he would be the pitcher.

If you are the umpire are you going to allow this to happen. I hope not.


Read the rule carefully. It says he becomes the pitcher when the PU makes the ball live, NOT when a warmup pitch is thrown.

I didn't say this was the accepted practice, I just quoted the rule.
B bluezebra100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Connell:
Blue Zebra you just answered your own response to me. But no umpire is gonna let a kid warm-up and not pitch to the next batter.
We even had an umpire count the balls thrown around the infield while talking to a pitcher as warm-ups for the short stop that came in.
I will start this as a new thread but give me your response.


I hope he was reported to his association. That is totally asinine, and has no validation by rule.

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