Too many warm-up pitches

[NuggDawg]

Blue,

What are the logistics regarding base runners and play during extra warm-up pitches?

Speaking ASA or NCAA. R1 at 2nd; 3-0 count.

Coach has seen enough: a walk and a wild pitch on 7 pitches way out of the zone. PU grants Coach time to swap F8 and F1. And the new pitcher has just exceeded her warm-up tosses.

Question 1: When should PU start announcing balls to the batter for exceeding five warm-ups (upon the 6th, or tally them up once F1 stops)?

Question 2a: Does play become automatically "un-suspended" upon the 6th toss (can base runners advance--steal) regardless of the ball/strike count?

Question 2b: If an extra warm-up pitch is ball-4 and allows the BR to advance, does she have to stop at 1st, or is the ball now live?

[GIMNEPIWO]

I'll take a stab at it so Wade & MTR can correct me ... ... The rules say that the '5 warm up pitches' do not apply if the umpire delays do to subs, conferences, injuries or other umpire responsibilities ... If the Umpire does not call a ball or a strike on a pitch he is obviously not behind the dish, said or signalled play ball and not ready for the pitch ... meaning he can't stand to the side performing other duties and count excessive warm up pitches running his clicker ...

[MTR]

I'll take a stab at it so Wade & MTR can correct me ... ... The rules say that the '5 warm up pitches' do not apply if the umpire delays do to subs, conferences, injuries or other umpire responsibilities ... If the Umpire does not call a ball or a strike on a pitch he is obviously not behind the dish, said or signalled play ball and not ready for the pitch ... meaning he can't stand to the side performing other duties and count excessive warm up pitches running his clicker ...

That's about right. Forgot to include that it is 5 pitches or 1 minute.

There are some, who I consider over-officious umpires, who believe the BU should count and apply the appropriate penalty while the PU is finishing up his/her paperwork recording the change.

It is not out of the realm of possibility to bleieve that it is going to take at least 60 seconds for the umpire to retrieve the line-up card, get the change, announce the change, replace the line-up card holder and return to the plate area. By that time, the pitcher should be finished the warm-up pitches and be ready to go.

I will call the ball if I tell the catcher that we are moving forward and ready to go and pitches continue to come.

[wadeintothem]

Lots of times I will tell the catcher take it down on 3, then and deduct pitches from there if lagging on time.

Dont OOO this rule, dont look for a gotcha. The intent is to keep the game moving and thats the umpires responsibility. Prevent this call by managing and keeping your head in the game.

A warm up pitch is not a pitch. Furthermore, the ball is dead. The runner cant steal.

[NuggDawg]

Great stuff posters, thank you.

I get that there is no pitch. But can you also address the situation were you as PU grant ball four on extra warm-ups with runners on.

A batter has just walked and you never motioned to F1 to start play. A walk is a live ball situation, but is ball four on excessive warm-ups a "dead ball walk"?

What's the status of play when you grant the base award: live, dead, or mostly dead?


Are there any rules or guides to hang your hat on regarding this when the offensive coach wants to protest?

[GIMNEPIWO]

If there is 'no pitch' ... there is no ball or strike

If you never motioned F1 or said play-ball after a dead ball situation, then the ball is still dead

And I believe that 'awarding' 1st base for excessive pitches would be a dead ball situation ... but don't see that specifically addressed in the rule book ... but will look more later since I'm supposed to be working

[wadeintothem]

It is still a suspension of play. OFTEN awards are made during dead ball/suspension of play and the rules are clear and it is obvious that warmups are made during a suspension of play.

This is simply an award while play is suspended/dead ball similar to many other types of awards (such as a ground rule double etc), it does not make the ball live. The runner cannot advance beyond 1. The ball is dead.

[MTR]

Great stuff posters, thank you.

I get that there is no pitch. But can you also address the situation were you as PU grant ball four on extra warm-ups with runners on.

A batter has just walked and you never motioned to F1 to start play. A walk is a live ball situation, but is ball four on excessive warm-ups a "dead ball walk"?

If you have a walk on excessive warm ups, you are not doing a very good job.

Are there any rules or guides to hang your hat on regarding this when the offensive coach wants to protest?

Protest what?