Warm-up query

[JJ]

FED rules. Can the starting pitcher warm up on the mound while his team is taking pregame infield behind him, or must he be in the bullpen or off to the side somewhere?
Thanks.

[ozzy6900]

Let's think about this for a minute. The team is taking defensive practice (someone is hitting a ball to them). The defense is throwing the ball to bases and we have a pitcher trying to warm up on the mound? Unless there are protective screens as in NCAA and pro, we have a saftey problem already.

Aside from that, if one team's pitcher throws his "bull pen" from the mound, is the opposing team going to get the same courtesy?

I think that this is an area to stay away from as you are not in charge of the field until you are in the confines. Let the coaches hash this out before you set foot on the field.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by JJ
FED rules. Can the starting pitcher warm up on the mound while his team is taking pregame infield behind him, or must he be in the bullpen or off to the side somewhere?
Thanks.

Not covered in FED.

I don't think it's a safety issue -- heck, you sometimes see two coaches hitting the ball to infielders while another is hitting to the outfield who is throwing the ball to a base / cut-off man. I'd think the pitcher warming up would get in the way of that, but it's not my concern.

Personally, I'd allow it as long as it's part of the team's infield time. I know that goes against NCAA and OBR rules.

(I hope you're not asking because of one of my games!)

[JJ]

Nope, Bob, you're off the hook! It came as a question to the IHSA, and I thought I'd post it to see what umpires and state associations are doing with it nationwide.