Playing OBR rules.
If a player picks up the ball and stands on the mound is he required to pitch to atleast one batter?

Thanks
Les

[Edited by lc_huxter on Jun 14th, 2005 at 03:37 PM]

Let me summarize. I'll try not to be too blunt, but I'm sure I'll fail.

"We have a local rule that has nothing to do with normal rules. I'm not going to bother to tell anyone on this board what the local rule says the enforcement is for breaking the local rule - I'm going to make you guess. Coach of the team offended by the other team breaking this penalty-less random local rule asks for, and gets, a forfeit. Should this be a forfeit?"

Seriously - when you have local rules, don't ask those OUTSIDE your locality to answer on whether it's ruled correctly.

PS - there is a nugget of a legitimate question in there - so I'll answer that. YES - once a player takes the mound, he is a pitcher of record and must pitch to at least one batter. (And if I'm the umpire in this situation, unless specifically told otherwise prior to taking the assignment, I don't forfeit the game - I note the protest, and let the game finish, including letting this pitcher pitch.)

Pitcher
 

I agree.

3.08
(a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute shall be considered as having entered the game when_ (1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher's plate; (2) If a batter, he takes his place in the batter's box.

"once a player takes the mound, he is a pitcher of record and must pitch to at least one batter."

He has to take a position on the rubber. If he's just standing on the dirt of the mound he is NOT the new pitcher.

It happens a lot. A teammate stops at the mound, picks up the ball, waits for his pitcher, gives him the ball and a word of encouragement and then trots off to his position.