Fielder Warms Up as Pitcher

[Mike M]

During a practice game (Babe Ruth) and in the fifth inning, a fielder on his way to his position, stops at the mound, picks up the baseball and makes a pitch from the pitching rubber. Since it is a practice game I ignore it but I let the coach know that "technically" the fielder would be the new pitcher. I remember reading it in an Internet article so I felt I was correct. Later that night when I was trying to locate language indicating that once a player makes a pitch from the rubber he is the pitcher but I had trouble finding it. Any suggestions where to look?

[Edited by Mike M on Apr 9th, 2001 at 01:20 PM]

[mick]

Originally posted by Mike M
Durng a practice game (Babe Ruth) and in the fifth inning, a fielder on his way to his position, stops at the mound, picks up the baseball and makes a pitch from the pitching rubber. Since it is a practice game I ignore it but I let the coach know that "technically" the fielder would be the new pitcher. I remember reading it in an Internet article so I felt I was correct. Later that night when I was trying to locate language indicating that once a player makes a pitch from the rubber he is the pitcher but I had trouble finding it. Any suggestions where to look?

Mike,
Try Rule 3.08 Substitutions, but note that this rule varies by levels.
mick

[Rog]

Had the same thing happen in an Amer. Legion district play-off game. I swear this is why they have a mandatory helmet rule.
Fortunately the offensive team did not see it, because if they had made an appeal this kid would have been the new pitcher for at least the first batter.
As you mention, this being a PRACTICE game, it might not be of a concern to the other team.

[Gre144]

Any suggestions on where to look for this answer in FED?

[Rog]

Your issue would not happen in a high school game!

Rule # 3, Sec. 1, Art. 1
Should there be no announcement of substitutions, a substitiute has entered the game when the ball is alive and,
b. a pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate.