So who saw the rules screw-up in Wednesday's (4-15-09) Padres @ Mets game?
 

I'm relaxing watching the Padres @ Mets game Wednesday night when the following happened:

Mets with a runner on base and Brian Schneider up to bat. With a 3-0 count and trying to bunt R1 over, Schneider takes a high and away pitch for ball four. As he drops the bat to go to first, Padres skipper heads to the mound to talk to his pitcher. Plate ump Paul Emmel breaks it up and we're ready to go with Castillo now up. He takes two balls, and with the count now 2-0, Padres skipper heads to the mound. Again. He gets to the foul line when Emmel puts up his hand as if to say, "Whoa! No can do."

There's a delay of a few seconds, Emmel looks at Crew Chief Gary Darling, who then waves the Padres manager to the mound and lets him continue. Padres skip briefly talks to his pitcher, then takes the ball from him as he brings in a new hurler.

I'm looking at this and going, "Huh?" :eek:

Heck I had to call my esteemed fellow rules nerd Mr. Jenkins and tell him about this. He couldn't believe it, either.

A. No second trip to the same pitcher with the same batter at bat.

B. If for some reason the manager isn't warned by PU on such a prohibited second trip, he's not ejected, but the pitcher must be pulled--AFTER the at-bat is completed, however.

The Padres skip did, indeed, make such a second prohibited trip. He did change the pitcher, but before the at-bat was completed.

Oops. I wonder if someone is going to get chewed out. :D

I saw it, too, and couldn't believe my eyes when they allowed it! Here's a clip:

YouTube - Two visits to pitcher in same at-bat

Someone tell those announcers to just SHUT UP. Their ignorance isn't helping things, either!

Rick Sutcliffe was the only announcer of the three who had an idea of the rule. Joe Morgan, as usual, had no clue.

What I don't get is that the umpires seemed to be aware that it was his second trip, but they allowed it anyway. Crew Chief Gary Darling and U2 Bill Hohn initially tried to stop the mgr. from coming out, but it appears PU Paul Emmel convinced Darling it was OK.

SOMEbody's gonna get scolded. :D

Did they claim the pitcher was injuryed? If so, then a trip would be allowed.

He may have been confused since all players and coaches were wearing #42. Hard to tell everyone apart.

What if Black asked for Time and was granted time prior to Castillo being announced? Would that be considered a trip during his at bat? If Black asked for time as the previous batter was dropping his bat to head to first, the next hitter had not yet been announced. His at bat doesn't start until he is announced. This is why managers wait until the next hitter is announced before changing pitchers, giving the last move to the offense and making them burn a player. I didn't see the game, so I'm just wondering if this may have been why the second conference was allowed by Darling.

No. No such injury was claimed.

For purposes of this rule, Castillo's at-bat began the instant Schneider's ended with the walk. Therefore, Black's second trip came during the same at-bat, which isn't permitted, of course.

missed it ;-)

Was Castillo a pinch hitter? That could change things.

unrelated but why is EVERYONE wearing 42

Had to be an injury claim, looked at box score, no pinch hitter... Very nonchalant by Darling after manager said something to him. No way they miss this one and no way opposing manager lets it happen that easy.



[Checked a couple of sights - no mention of injury or the incident - hmmmmmm makes you wonder (this part posted later)]

Jackie Robinson day.....