Question for the baseball guys

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

The pitcher is limited because otherwise you could have the batter and pitcher in a never ending game of switching hands to get the advantage.

I believe there's also a rule that once a pitcher is announced, he must pitch to one batter. Otherwise, you could bring in a reliever, the opponent could bring in a pinch hitter, then you could switch pitchers, the opponent could bring another pinch hitter. . .

Am I right about that?

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I believe there's also a rule that once a pitcher is announced, he must pitch to one batter. Otherwise, you could bring in a reliever, the opponent could bring in a pinch hitter, then you could switch pitchers, the opponent could bring another pinch hitter. . .

Am I right about that?

You got it reversed. One a batter is announced and the at-bat starts, he must bat, cannot be replaced in the at-bat unless injuried. But you can switch the pitcher as many times as you want, even in the middle of the count. However, in the pro's, once you replace the pitcher, he is out of the game permanently, unless you stick him into the field, but I don't believe he can come back and pitch again once replaced. In softball, once the pitcher returns to a position in the field, he can then come back and pitch again and you can do this as many times as you want.

I know this is the same for MLB and softball slow pitch. The manager only gets one trip to the mound an not replace the pitcher in the same inning. Two trips to the mound in any one inning by the manager or pitching coach, pitcher must be replaced.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Old School

You got it reversed. One a batter is announced and the at-bat starts, he must bat, cannot be replaced in the at-bat unless injuried. But you can switch the pitcher as many times as you want, even in the middle of the count. However, in the pro's, once you replace the pitcher, he is out of the game permanently, unless you stick him into the field, but I don't believe he can come back and pitch again once replaced. In softball, once the pitcher returns to a position in the field, he can then come back and pitch again and you can do this as many times as you want.

I know this is the same for MLB and softball slow pitch. The manager only gets one trip to the mound an not replace the pitcher in the same inning. Two trips to the mound in any one inning by the manager or pitching coach, pitcher must be replaced.

This is stunning it's so wrong. In every possible way.

A pitcher can return to the mound once per inning if he stays in the game by playing another position. If in the AL, this kills the DH, BTW.

A manager cannot make two trips to the same batter in MLB. If he does after being warned, the manager is ejected and the pitcher must finish the at bat and then HE'S ejected.

You can pinch hit as often as you like. It's not unusual for a pinch hitter to be announced, followed by a pitching change, followed by a pinch hitter for the guy who hasn't even come up to the plate. But that's where it stops, as a pitcher must pitch until he completes an at bat or the side is retired.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

This is stunning it's so wrong. In every possible way.

A pitcher can return to the mound once per inning if he stays in the game by playing another position. If in the AL, this kills the DH, BTW.

A manager cannot make two trips to the same batter in MLB. If he does after being warned, the manager is ejected and the pitcher must finish the at bat and then HE'S ejected.

You can pinch hit as often as you like. It's not unusual for a pinch hitter to be announced, followed by a pitching change, followed by a pinch hitter for the guy who hasn't even come up to the plate. But that's where it stops, as a pitcher must pitch until he completes an at bat or the side is retired.

Okay, I knew it was going to be confusing after I wrote it. What I meant is, once the at-bat starts, that's batter in the batters box and pitcher set on the rubber to deliver pinch, and the umpire says play ball. That batter can now, not be changed. Before the pitcher gets on the rubber and the umpire says play ball, he/she can be pulled back for another pinch hitter (PH). So it is possible to be in the batters box and before the umpire says play ball, be replaced by another pinch hitter. However, once the umpire says play ball, he/she can no longer be replaced at bat. Also, this sh!t gets deep, once the pinch batter is replaced before ever batting, in other words PH for a PH. The original PH is now out the game, can not return, can not return to play defense. He/she was replaced.

Different story for the pitcher. The pitcher can be 2-0 into the count and be replaced. But the batter can't be replaced if the count is 2-0. That's what I tried to say but in far less words and I did not do it justice. So in fact, the question was in reverse. The pitcher can be replaced at any time thru-out the count, the batter can not, unless of course for injury.

I once had a female who was still in her breast feeding months, breast started flowing milk at the cry of a baby in the crowd that was not hers. By rule, I let her be replaced at the count we where at. It hard to say all of this, and all that applies in a few short words.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Old School

to deliver pinch,

I once had a female who was still in her breast feeding mouths, breast started flowing milk at the cry of a baby in the crowd that was not hers. By rule, I let her be replaced at the count we where at. It hard to say all of this, and all that applies in a few short words.

"pitch"
"months"
"were"
"It's"

"Views expressed here or the opinion of the author." Still incorrect grammar in the signature line - "or" instead of "are".

And this is the guy who denigrates (Old Drool, you can look that up) my spelling and grammar.

Ho-hum. Life goes on as usual.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

But that's where it stops, as a pitcher must pitch until he completes an at bat or the side is retired.

That is wrong, completely wrong. A pitcher can be replaced at any time. A batter cannot. I can be 3-2 full count and be replaced as the pitcher. I can be 1-0 or 0-2 into the count and be replaced as a pitcher. If I'm anywhere into the count as a batter, I must complete the at-bat.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Old School

That is wrong, completely wrong. A pitcher can be replaced at any time. A batter cannot. I can be 3-2 full count and be replaced as the pitcher. I can be 1-0 or 0-2 into the count and be replaced as a pitcher. If I'm anywhere into the count as a batter, I must complete the at-bat.

Just to further make my case clearer. In the NL, the pitcher can bat. Once the pitcher receives a count 1-0 as the batter. He must complete the at-bat. He can not be replaced. However, the pitcher on the mound can be replaced anywhere in the count. If the count is 1-0, you can switch to another pitcher on the mound. The next pitcher comes in and throws 2 more balls for a count total of 3-0. That pitcher can be replaced with another pitcher on the mound. I have seen this in MLB. The in-between pitcher was used to get the guy the manager really wanted to use warm up.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Old School

Just to further make my case clearer. In the NL, the pitcher can bat. Once the pitcher receives a count 1-0 as the batter. He must complete the at-bat. He can not be replaced.

Not true. A batter can be replaced *at any time*.

A pitcher can be replaced *at any time* after he has faced one batter (or the side has been retired). The "one batter" rule "starts over" after a visit, unless there is also a pinch hitter (okay -- that was confusingly worded).

However, the pitcher on the mound can be replaced anywhere in the count. If the count is 1-0, you can switch to another pitcher on the mound. The next pitcher comes in and throws 2 more balls for a count total of 3-0. That pitcher can be replaced with another pitcher on the mound. I have seen this in MLB. The in-between pitcher was used to get the guy the manager really wanted to use warm up.

The first substitution you mentioned (with a 1-0 count) is allowed. The second (with a 3-0 count) isn't, and, no, you haven't seen it in MLB (unless the umpires were really asleep).

Since this is a baseball rules question that was posed, I'd ask you not to respond further unless you are a current baseball umpire.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Not true. A batter can be replaced *at any time*.

I disagree, batter has to be injured after the count starts. I've never seen this in a game, but that don't mean it's not possible, I've just never seen it.

The first substitution you mentioned (with a 1-0 count) is allowed. The second (with a 3-0 count) isn't, and, no, you haven't seen it in MLB (unless the umpires were really asleep).

Yes I have, it happened in the playoff's a few years ago. Don't forget the injury rule, what happens if the pitcher got hurt.

Since this is a baseball rules question that was posed, I'd ask you not to respond further unless you are a current baseball umpire.

I shouldn't have to be a baseball ump to have an opinion even though I umpired for many years. I am not saying I'm 100% correct but i am not 100% incorrect either.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Old School

Just to further make my case clearer. In the NL, the pitcher can bat. Once the pitcher receives a count 1-0 as the batter. He must complete the at-bat. He can not be replaced. However, the pitcher on the mound can be replaced anywhere in the count. If the count is 1-0, you can switch to another pitcher on the mound. The next pitcher comes in and throws 2 more balls for a count total of 3-0. That pitcher can be replaced with another pitcher on the mound. I have seen this in MLB. The in-between pitcher was used to get the guy the manager really wanted to use warm up.

I mean, he's really GOTTA be putting us on.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Old School

Just to further make my case clearer. In the NL, the pitcher can bat. Once the pitcher receives a count 1-0 as the batter. He must complete the at-bat. He can not be replaced. However, the pitcher on the mound can be replaced anywhere in the count. If the count is 1-0, you can switch to another pitcher on the mound. The next pitcher comes in and throws 2 more balls for a count total of 3-0. That pitcher can be replaced with another pitcher on the mound. I have seen this in MLB. The in-between pitcher was used to get the guy the manager really wanted to use warm up.

A pitcher [starter or substitute] must pitch until the batting slot completes a time at bat or there are three outs [R3.05], unless the pitcher is injured, ill or ejected.
If a pitcher is replaced, but has not met the above requirements, the previous pitcher must re-enter the game to meet those requirements.