Can they do this?

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by GarthB

1. Let's say a pitching change is being made. Coach then tosses ball to F3 who throws "grounders" to F4, F5, and F6 who throw the ball back to F3.

Is this okay in your games?

This happens often. Yes

Originally Posted by GarthB

2. Pitching change is not being made, just a conference. Again, coach then tosses ball to F3 who throws "grounders" to F4, F5, and F6 who throw the ball back to F3.

Is this okay?

Don't remember it ever happening, but Yes


Back to OP this is totally a judgement call.
Let's say F6 had been shaken up in previous half inning, got on field late and didn't have chance to test the arm. Coach sees him working the shoulder and comes out for def. conference with ball and tosses to F6. At this point I know this is not a ruse to warm up the next pitcher, no problem.
If F1 is struggling, no one is warming up in bull pen, Coach comes out for conference with ball in hand and tosses to F6, I may be inclined to judge that F6 is warming up, not allowed.
If you don't allow it and your judgement is wrong there is no real harm done.
If you do allow it and indeed F6 is warming up and 2 batters later F6 enters as pitcher then a disservice has been done to offensive team.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CO ump

Don't remember it ever happening, but Yes

Wow. It happens a lot here. Fielder will take advantage of the time out and throw the ball around.

If we go back to the OP, before posters started assuming a relief pitcher was involved, I don't see a drastic difference between that scenario and the one I suggested.

I believe the FED rule is intended to preempt incoming relief pitchers from getting extra throws, not to prevent fielders from "staying loose."

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Wow. It happens a lot here. Fielder will take advantage of the time out and throw the ball around.

If we go back to the OP, before posters started assuming a relief pitcher was involved, I don't see a drastic difference between that scenario and the one I suggested.

I believe the FED rule is intended to preempt incoming relief pitchers from getting extra throws, not to prevent fielders from "staying loose."

That's a good take on the intent of the rule.

Many times a player will yell at someone in dug out for a ball, never have I had a problem with that, but I don't ever remember a coach coming out for a conference with a ball in hand, (maybe he has and I just don't notice)so I've never made a ruling prohibiting a player from staying loose. I'm just trying to imagine the sitch in my head and determing what could be or would be proper or acceptable interps.

[CO ump]

Let's try this:

This will never happen BUT what if....

May 5 you're PU Washington High vs Lincoln High.
7 th inning WH coach comes out for conference tosses ball to F6 who gets in 8-10 throws with F5 during conference. 2 batters later F6 replaces F1 and shuts the door.
Between half inning LH coach asks if it was legal for F6 to be "warming up" on field during conference?

May 28 you're PU, Lincoln High vs Washington High .
7th inning WH coach comes out for conference, tosses ball to F6.

Do you care?

[DG]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Wow. It happens a lot here. Fielder will take advantage of the time out and throw the ball around.

If we go back to the OP, before posters started assuming a relief pitcher was involved, I don't see a drastic difference between that scenario and the one I suggested.

I believe the FED rule is intended to preempt incoming relief pitchers from getting extra throws, not to prevent fielders from "staying loose."

I think the intent is to not delay the game when a pitching change is imminent. Coach comes to the mound tosses the ball to infielders and takes as much time on the mound as the umpire will allow before he brings one of the "tossers" in to pitch. Just like when one is warming up in the bullpen, as soon as it is known a pitching change is coming he needs to stop throwing in the bullpen and get to the mound.

I don't think I have ever seen the coach come out and toss a ball to F3 so he can throw grounders to other infielders to stay loose while coach talks to the pitcher, but I assume it could happen. It happens often that a pitcher leaves the mound, takes another infield position and takes grounders while the other pitcher warms up. F3 is usually throwing grounders only to the former pitcher, unless of course the former pitcher goes to be F3, and then he is the one getting a few catches in and he will throw grounders to all infielders.

While I knew about the 2006 interp, there are very few umpires I know who do and no coaches and I find it easier to just go to the mound when I see a coach throwing a ball to an infielder and say "coach, if you are making a pitching change he needs to come to the mound for warmups" and that generally puts a stop to it. I am not going to stand there watching two infielders throw back and forth for 30 seconds before I go to the mound and make the coach show his cards.

Taking grounders during a pitching change is no more unsafe than taking them every half inning. I see no reason to stop it. If a coach comes out with a ball and tosses to an infielder I will be at the mound when arrives, unless I am on bases, and then I leave it up to my partner.