How many warm up pitches?

[Bluefoot]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA

Maybe you misunderstood my point. Teams and coaches will complain about anything, right, wrong or indifferent.

If his/her pitcher hustles out there, takes three and is ready to go, that's great. But because they are use to just getting three (FP) at home and all of a sudden see another team taking five, the complaints will come if they are unaware of the actual rule.

YES! THAT is exactly my point. Invariably teams complain about anything. Especially prima donna pitchers (yes, even in SP). Even though I stick to the ASA 3 warm pitches, some players still complain because other umpires are inconsistent, or don't know the rules. They give them 5 in the first inning, then 3 thereafter, or 3 in the first, and only 1 after that. That's when I hear, "But (so and so) lets us have (x number) of pitches!" This take can be applied to many ASA rule misapplications, as we know.

By holding firm to the rules and using ASA as my guide, I reduce some of the whining when teams see that I am consistent and providing no advantage for either team, or letting a team dictate what the rules are. But in my 3 years, noone in SP still knows this rule, so I'll probably be enforcing it as long as I continue to go behind the plate.