Game Situation for New Pitcher

[SRW]

Something that came up this weekend in my State Tournament:

Pitching change.

Do you inform the new pitcher of the game situation, or do you let her figure it out via her teammates and/or coaches?

And if you do inform her, which position (base umpire or plate umpire) does it? What do you tell her?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SRW

Something that came up this weekend in my State Tournament:

Pitching change.

Do you inform the new pitcher of the game situation, or do you let her figure it out via her teammates and/or coaches?

And if you do inform her, which position (base umpire or plate umpire) does it? What do you tell her?

Personally, as the PU, I remind the batter and catcher. If the catcher chooses to remind the pitcher, that is her option, not to mention part of her job.

As a PU, I rarely talk to the pitcher, but I'm more than happy to communicate with a catcher as long as it is a valid question and does not get ridiculous.

As a BU, I'm in my position, no where near the circle, so there isn't going to be anything said in the field.

[AtlUmpSteve]

At the higher levels, no. That is considered coaching.

Have you ever seen a pitching change made where a defensive coach didn't make it? If a coach makes the change, isn't s/he capable (and responsible) to tell the new pitcher what situation s/he put her in?

If there is a count on the current batter, I (as PU) will restart the at-bat by announcing the count; just as I would after any other significant delay. If asked, I will restate the outs.

As BU, my responsibility is to make sure PU knows how many warmup pitches have been thrown when you are done announcing the substitutions. After that, I get in position for the next play.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

At the higher levels, no. That is considered coaching.

Have you ever seen a pitching change made where a defensive coach didn't make it? If a coach makes the change, isn't s/he capable (and responsible) to tell the new pitcher what situation s/he put her in?

If there is a count on the current batter, I (as PU) will restart the at-bat by announcing the count; just as I would after any other significant delay. If asked, I will restate the outs.

As BU, my responsibility is to make sure PU knows how many warmup pitches have been thrown when you are done announcing the substitutions. After that, I get in position for the next play.

This covers it all, in my opinion.

[Dakota]

As BU, no.

As PU, I'll announce the # of outs and (if the change was made during an at-bat) the count, the same as for any other long break in the action.

But, I don't specifically tell the pitcher anything.

[3afan]

No one should - its not the umpires job, its the coaches job. as PU i'll give the count if there is one, thats it.

[Steve M]

When we're ready to restart after the change, I'll give the count - if there is one - but nothing else. I'm not a coach and do not want to have any part of coaching the players. Along with the fact that the players should already know the game situation.

[wadeintothem]

No, I leave that to the showboat umpires.

[SRW]

As of now, 8 people say that they inform the new F1 of the game situation. I'd like to hear from someone in that camp as to why they inform the new F1, and what is said (...without getting beat up by the 39 others who said no.)