Looking high and low for a rule...

[Bainer]

Okay-
Had a situation that frankly I couldn't care less about, but it got back to the umpire's association and they upheld the complaint, so here it is-

TWICE in the same game, the visiting manager complained to me that the home team was using "players in the bullpen that are in the current lineup". On the first occasion, during an extended half inning, the home team sent the starting/current pitcher to the bullpen to stay warm. The second time, the home team had the starting/current catcher warming up a reliever.

Each time, the visiting manager argued that a player in the lineup cannot be used in the bullpen. He wasn't mad about it, just pointing it out, and disappointed that I didn't remove them. My arguement was that they weren't gaining an advantage, and that I was not aware of a rule forbidding it.

Well, he mentioned it to another unmpire, who took it to "the powers that be". They decided that the coach was right, and that players in the lineup should NOT be used in the bullpen. When I asked for supporting documentation, they said that they would find it...but can't.

To pre-empt any clarifying questions, it was a senior men's semi-pro game, OBR rules, bullpens were in the field of play, down the baselines.

I'm not interested in what the league should've done, or what I should've said, or what the coach must've meant...just the rule.

If anyone has any supporting documentation on this (OBR only) or has heard this before, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks-


Bainer.