Defensive players warming up
 

While looking at the NCAA rules, I saw that it is legal for defensive players to warm up during a defensive conference, as long as they are already in the lineup and in fair territory.

Is this also legal in FED? I had it happen in one game this year. The DC went out for a visit and tossed F6 a ball so he could play catch with F5. I skimmed the FED book the other day and didn't see anything.

You could read it very carefully and still not see anything.

You could have Ben Kingsley read it as Gandhi and still not hear anything either.

I almost had an ejection a few years ago when a coach brought out a bat after the top of the first and wanted to hit fungos to his outfielder and I told him not to do it.

In retrospect, it was an entertaining little exchange.

It's only illegal to HIT the ball to players on defense once the game has started.

Actually, the FED rule says "A...player...shall not...hit the ball to players on defense after the game has started." The penalty is a team (coach) warning, followed by ejection of the next offender.

Interestingly, there is no exemption for the batter. Hmmm...

Interesting indeed. So B1 steps up and hits the ball. "Coach this is your warning!" B2 hits the ball and gets ejected.

Man, this is really going to shorten my games!

Oh wait: the word "other" in the first clause implies that the player has to be bench personnel, and the section is "Bench and Field Conduct." Dang.

Yeah I knew that the defensive team can't hit the ball to anyone after the game has started. Thanks everyone.

I believe there is a FED case book, or SITUATION in the annual INTERPS that says a HC can not toss a ball to an infielder to warmup to pitch while he conducts a conference, when his intent is to change pitchers, and he is just killing time to get the reliever a few throws before announcement is made.

Of course Gorilla arm only appears as a SITUATION in the INTERPS (2005, #5) and few know about it or will enforce.