Trips to Pitcher

[MD11]

Folks,
I do not work Fed nor do I have Fed Rules. Having said that, can anyone tell me the FED Rules/Restrictions on trips/visits to the mound... how many per pitcher, per inning or per game and when a pitcher has to be removed?

Thanks in advance.

[CoachJM]

MD11,

Under FED rules, each team is allowed 3 defensive charged conferences per game. After the 3rd charged conference (where a pitcher has NOT been removed) each subsequent conference results in the pitcher being removed from the mound.

JM

[Ozzy]

Those trips can be uses all in one half inning, even on the same batter. Also, if the game goes into extra innings, any leftover conferences are lost. Each team gets one conference per inning and they do not accumulate.

[nopachunts]

And don't let your partner and/or coach try to convince you it's a rolling 3 conferences. Some believe you get a new set of 3 with every pitching change. Sad but true.

[Fritz]

And can we have the Fed add a rule that if the defense is going to switch pitchers, they let you know that sooner rather than later. Hate wearing down my pencil lead by calling Time, letting the manager walk out to the mound, pull out my card, mark down the pertinent conference info, put it away, start my walk to the mound to get the game back under way, THEN see the coach wave in a new pitcher!! Now I have to waste time erasing my entry on my card while not letting the little eraser fall out of the pencil.........I mean, have a little sympathy for all the "administrative" stuff the plate guy has to do will ya! ; )

[shickenbottom]

And can we have the Fed add a rule that if the defense is going to switch pitchers, they let you know that sooner rather than later. Hate wearing down my pencil lead by calling Time, letting the manager walk out to the mound, pull out my card, mark down the pertinent conference info, put it away, start my walk to the mound to get the game back under way, THEN see the coach wave in a new pitcher!! Now I have to waste time erasing my entry on my card while not letting the little eraser fall out of the pencil.........I mean, have a little sympathy for all the "administrative" stuff the plate guy has to do will ya! ; )

The whole reason the coach is requesting time is so that they can go talk to the pitcher in private.

The amount of time it takes you to record the info and dust the plate is sufficient time for them to talk to the player and make a decision. If they've already burned through their freebies, then by all means get the change. However, before that give them the time they need, they may decide to keep the poor kid in there to get shelled some more.

Then again it give the coach some time to calm down before he asks you where the pitches are missing.

[mr umpire]

Those trips can be uses all in one half inning, even on the same batter. Also, if the game goes into extra innings, any leftover conferences are lost. Each team gets one conference per inning and they do not accumulate.

Is Fed different? I know in the OBR, the defense coach can only call Time once during a batter's at bat. If they try more than once, they should be informed that they cannot do that. And, if they insist on doing it, the coach will be informed that he has been ejected and after that pitcher finishes the current batter, the defense has to get another pitcher out there because his day is done, if I am remembering all of that correctly. Is it any different for Fed, since I do not do Fed rules?

[Willy]

And can we have the Fed add a rule that if the defense is going to switch pitchers, they let you know that sooner rather than later. Hate wearing down my pencil lead by calling Time, letting the manager walk out to the mound, pull out my card, mark down the pertinent conference info, put it away, start my walk to the mound to get the game back under way, THEN see the coach wave in a new pitcher!! Now I have to waste time erasing my entry on my card while not letting the little eraser fall out of the pencil.........I mean, have a little sympathy for all the "administrative" stuff the plate guy has to do will ya! ; )

You dont need to erase anything. You should make a note of every conference anyways. When it is not a charged conference, I simply put an "X" next to the info (inning, outs, batter #).

[Tim_C]

"Is Fed different?"

Obviously. The OP related to FED and the answers clearly defined the rule.

[mr umpire]

Obviously. The OP related to FED and the answers clearly defined the rule.

My question was referring to the same batter comment which I mentioned after the question. I know Fed is different in how the trips are counted and when a pitcher gets removed. But, does Fed allow the same batter to have Time called on him more than once? I thought the idea was to speed up the game in many cases such as the "Speed up" rule for pitchers and catchers. This allows it to be slowed down plus give an advantage to the defense possibly or mess the pitcher up and give up extra bases.

[CoachJM]

mr umpire,

The OBR prohibition of visiting the pitcher twice during the same at bat does not exist in FED rules. The Offensive HC has the option of using all 3 of his charged conferences during the same at bat if he so desires.

JM

[Tim_C]

But, does Fed allow the same batter to have Time called on him more than once?

Already answered by Ozzy. Now again by UmpJM

I thought the idea was to speed up the game in many cases such as the "Speed up" rule for pitchers and catchers.

I don't know how the space time continum works in your area but here in Orygun three trips are three trips and it would not delay the game if they were taken to one pitcher during one batter or spread out over a number of innings.


This allows it to be slowed down plus give an advantage to the defense possibly or mess the pitcher up and give up extra bases.


OK, you got me. This statement does not make sense. How can it give an advantage to the defense (who by the way the pitcher is part of) and at the same time "mess the pitcher up"???

Step away from the key board and take a deep breath.

Are things better now?

[mr umpire]

First, I was asking the question because it contradicts OBR and I wanted to know if it was right. Just b/c 1 person says something doesn't make it right.

Second, the game does slow down many times when the coach has to come out more than once in the same inning. It tends to seem to draw the inning out to appear to never end and maybe the game.

Third, there was an OR in the sentence NOT an AND. The defense can get an advantage b/c now the hitter has to get out of his rhythm and wait. But, it could mess the pitcher up and he gives up extra bases. I thought that was pretty clear but I guess not to some.

[chuktownblue]

What's the difference in length of game if the manager comes out three times in one batter, inning or game? If he takes, say 2 minutes each time, it all adds up the same at the end of the day. 3 visits in one batter, 6 minutes. 1 visit in 2nd inning, one in 3rd, one in 6th, 6 minutes. That inning may take longer, but the overall game length isn't going to change. However, if there are plenty of strikes being called... fewer visits... quicker games...

I don't buy the rhythm theory. The batter is "out of rhythm" every time he comes up to bat. He's been in the field, stuffing seeds in his mouth, sitting on the bench waiting for his turn at bat; gone a couple innings without swinging; then someone sticks a bat in his hand. And, when he's all ready to take a cut at the pitch, the pitcher throws a ball outside. That sure could mess up his "rhythm." Same with the fielders.... someone might go three or four innings without getting a ball hit to them. No rhythm there. Pitcher.... foul balls, base hits, wild pitches, past balls, pick offs. Where's the rhythm?

Space time continuum...... LOL :D

[Richard_Siegel]

And can we have the Fed add a rule that if the defense is going to switch pitchers, they let you know that sooner rather than later. Hate wearing down my pencil lead by calling Time, letting the manager walk out to the mound, pull out my card, mark down the pertinent conference info, put it away, start my walk to the mound to get the game back under way, THEN see the coach wave in a new pitcher!! Now I have to waste time erasing my entry on my card while not letting the little eraser fall out of the pencil.........I mean, have a little sympathy for all the "administrative" stuff the plate guy has to do will ya! ; )

Don't write it down until he leaves without making a change.

[mazzamouth]

And can we have the Fed add a rule that if the defense is going to switch pitchers, they let you know that sooner rather than later. Hate wearing down my pencil lead by calling Time, letting the manager walk out to the mound, pull out my card, mark down the pertinent conference info, put it away, start my walk to the mound to get the game back under way, THEN see the coach wave in a new pitcher!! Now I have to waste time erasing my entry on my card while not letting the little eraser fall out of the pencil.........I mean, have a little sympathy for all the "administrative" stuff the plate guy has to do will ya! ; )

Im not to sure if you know this.....But Baseball Doesn't HAVE A TIME LIMIT.
Who cares if the coach goes out there and then decides to make a change. You dont know what is going on..maybe the coach goes out to find out if the pitcher is ok, and after talking to him they figure out he ( the pitcher) needs to come out. And you said " Waste time erasing my entry on my card" well what else are you gonna do for the 8 warm up pitches he is gonna take?

[Tim_C]

"If he takes, say 2 minutes each time, it all adds up the same at the end of the day. 3 visits in one batter, 6 minutes. 1 visit in 2nd inning, one in 3rd, one in 6th, 6 minutes."

Chucktown you have said it much better than I did.

Also this is a good place to speak to the teaching of 10-20-30.

We teach, statewide, that if a catcher goes to the mound to talk with F1 the PU waits 10 seconds after the catcher reaches the mound he then walks quickly (or jogs) to the mound to break things up.

If an assistant coach goes to the mound we have the PU wait 20 seconds before he does that same process to break up the conference.

If a head coach (manager) goes to the mound we wait 30 seconds and then go break things up.

BTW if Ozzy, UmpireJM or Bob Jenkins comment on NFHS rules you can take it to the bank.

I didn't buy much of Mr. Umpire's post.

[mr umpire]

I appreciate the straight forward answer, CoachJm. At least some actually give a straight forward, honest answer instead of resorting to childish, stupid comments. That is all I ask for when I ask a question. I do not give smarta$$ remarks and would appreciate the same respect. But, I guess some don't feel the same way.

[Tim_C]

"At least some actually give a straight forward, honest answer instead of resorting to childish, stupid comments. That is all I ask for when I ask a question. I do not give smarta$$ remarks and would appreciate the same respect."

You're kidding right?

You can't handle the small barbs you were given here. Not much of a thick skin for an umpire.

I will just consider the source on your remaining posts.

Regards,

[mr umpire]

You're kidding right?

You can't handle the small barbs you were given here. Not much of a thick skin for an umpire.

I will just consider the source on your remaining posts.

Regards,

It isn't that. I wouldn't mind them if I was debating or arguing something b/c I expect them then. I even got them from chuktownblue in another scenario we were discussing. Geez, I got them much worse from Ozzy. So, I do not care about those remarks.

All I did was ask a straight forward question and expected a straight forward answer. That's it. I do not think my question was open for anything else. I was not trying to contradict or start an argument with anyone with it.

[chuktownblue]

Also this is a good place to speak to the teaching of 10-20-30.


10-20-30.... I'll have to pass that on to the guys for the upcoming rec season. Those games never seem to finish in their imposed time limit. Not bad at all. I've always just brushed the plate off then it's time to go. For a coach, I'd take a couple more seconds to check line-up cards then start the "mound walk."