When does a Player assume pitching duties

[Rattlehead]

Defensive team is entering the field, Third Baseman picks up game ball and starts goofing off with the ball in the circle. She even acts like she is going to pitch the ball but does not ever throw the ball to the catcher. She then hands the ball the pitcher and then starts to third.

PU then says that she must deliver one pitch because the player is now the pitcher.

I looked (Skimmed)for it but I couldn't find the rule.

Doesn't the player have to throw a warmup pitch to be considered a pitcher sub?

[bkbjones]

The "picking up the ball" thing is a baseball rule...don't have my rule book with me or I'd give you the specific reference, but just because someone picks up the ball in the circle doesn't make them a pitcher in any softball I umpire...

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Rattlehead
Defensive team is entering the field, Third Baseman picks up game ball and starts goofing off with the ball in the circle. She even acts like she is going to pitch the ball but does not ever throw the ball to the catcher. She then hands the ball the pitcher and then starts to third.

PU then says that she must deliver one pitch because the player is now the pitcher.

I looked (Skimmed)for it but I couldn't find the rule.

Doesn't the player have to throw a warmup pitch to be considered a pitcher sub?

Speaking ASA, cannot speak for other sanctioning bodies.

Umpire is an idiot. Anyone can pitch at anytime save a player which was removed from that position by rule. A pitcher is NOT required to pitch to any batter, nor throw warm-ups to the catcher if they choose not to.

[Rattlehead]

I agree...

I was the BU in this instance 12U ASA ball and the PU (who tends to be very stubborn) got into a heated argument with the coach on this suject. Loud enough that spectators and I standing out in B could hear clearly what the conversation was.

Finally the coach asked him to speak with me on the subject. I spoke breifly with the PU and told him that I didn't know of such a rule in softball. I also told thim that this was a non-qualifying tourny, in other words the kids were out there for fun and arguing over a rule that the opposing coach didn't really give a damn about wasn't worth the trouble.

At the time I thought it may have been the incorrect advice but he took it and reveresed his ruling. When I got home I browsed thru my rule books and couldn't find anything to argue for or against.

[SRW]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
Speaking ASA, cannot speak for other sanctioning bodies.

Umpire is an idiot.

Is that Rule 15 or something?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally posted by Rattlehead
Defensive team is entering the field, Third Baseman picks up game ball and starts goofing off with the ball in the circle. She even acts like she is going to pitch the ball but does not ever throw the ball to the catcher. She then hands the ball the pitcher and then starts to third.

PU then says that she must deliver one pitch because the player is now the pitcher.

I looked (Skimmed)for it but I couldn't find the rule.

Doesn't the player have to throw a warmup pitch to be considered a pitcher sub?

The rulebook doesn't even state anywhere that throwing a warmup pitch makes you a pitcher.

Here's my $.02 opinion. If a sub is reported as pitcher, they become the pitcher of record when reported, accepted, and recorded. Otherwise, the defensive team has 60 seconds to deliver no more than 5 warmup pitches (speaking fast pitch, now), and I don't care who throws them, or to whom they are thrown. When the ball is ready to be put into play, whomever is in the circle with the ball ready to pitch is the pitcher. If that person didn't get to warm up, that is the team's problem, not mine.

If no sub was reported, then the pitcher isn't reentering in that position, either, so no new warmups will be permitted.