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Rules Questions and Answers

Archive of questions asked by local coaches and answered by the Umpire-in-Chief or the Rules committee.

Innings Pitched- Cal Ripken (Bambino) Major

Pitching Order

How do postponed games affect pitchers?

Dropped 3rd Strike Ruling

Live ball on 4th ball?

Innings Pitched-Cal Ripken (Bambino)Major
Question from a Bambino Major Coach
Wednesday night we pitched a kid 3 innings. The other coach claimed this was not legal until after Memorial Day. I contend it is ok as long as he did not pitch more than two innings the prior two days, Mon-Tuesday.
My understanding is they can pitch 3 innings with two full days rest between starts. If they pitch 3 innings Monday they could not pitch again until Thursday.
If they pitch 2 innings Monday they could pitch 1 to 3 innings on Wednesday.
Limit 6 innings per 7 days.
Let me know if my understanding is correct or in error.
I also know the pitching rule does change at Memorial Day. Could you tell me what the change is, if any, for Bambino Major.

April 28, 2000 - Response from Tom Clement, Umpire-in-Chief
The pitching limits rule is covered in Section VI of the local rules. For Cal Ripken Major, the kids are limited to 3 innings per game, until Memorial Day. After Memorial day they can pitch all six of the allowed weekly runs in a single game (not advisable). A pitching outing is considered 3 innings pitched. Throwing one pitch in the inning is considered working the inning. After an outing a pitcher must have 2 calendar days of rest. If the pitcher only pitches 2 innings, they do not need the two days rest. The only restriction after Memorial day is two days rest and still the 6 inning limit per week (Mon-Sun). (top)

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Pitching Order
Question
I have three pitchers P1, P2 & P3 assume that I do not have to pull any
pitcher, in other words they all complete the innings, can I pitch P1 in
inning 1 and then inning 3, P2 in inning 2 and inning 6 and P3 in inning
4 and 5 ? Basically can I pitch my pitchers in any order as long as they
complete an inning without having to be pulled???

Answer from Tom Clement, Umpire-in-Chief
The scenario you listed is fine so long as the pitchers all remain on
the field. You must abide by normal substitution rules. A pitcher may
not return to the mound if he is relieved by the coach on a second
trip to the mound in the same inning. (top)

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How do postponed games affect pitchers?
Question:
We had a game postponed to rain on Tuesday night. They said it would
probably be continued on Sunday. How does that affect our pitchers?
Do the innings they pitch on Sunday count towards this week or next week?

Also, we replaced our starting pitcher in the first inning. Is he allowed
to pitch in the game Sunday? He stayed in the game at 1st base.

Answer from Tom Clement, Umpire-in-chief:
1. Calendar week as defined by local rule VI.A.5 "The term calendar week
means the seven day period beginning at 12:01 AM on Monday of each week,
ending at 11:59 PM on Sunday of that week."
So innings pitched on Sunday's resumed game count in this week.

2. Under rule VIII.C "League pitching rules are still in effect for the
suspended game." You must rest your pitchers before and after according
to the rules if they pitch more than 3 innings less than 2 days before, or
for 2 days after if they more than three in the Sunday makeup.

3. When a coach makes a second trip to the mound in an inning to the same
pitcher, the pitcher must be removed as a pitcher and may not take the mound
again in that game. If you replace a pitcher on a first trip or between
innings, that pitcher may re enter as a pitcher. (top)

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Question:
Ruling with a dropped third strike?
In summary, the dropped third strike rule does not apply to the Cal Ripken (9-12 year-old ages) divisions.

Answer from Tom Clement, Babe Ruth Umpire-in-Chief:
It depends on the league you are in. Babe Ruth rules specifically state rule 6.09(b) is not applicable to the Cal Ripken (9-12) division. In the upper leagues, see rule 6.09(b) of official rules of baseball.

Baseball Rule

6.09 The batter becomes a runner when-

(a) He hits a fair ball;

(b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing

(1) first base is unoccupied, or

(2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out. (top)

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Question:
What is the ruling relating to live balls on a 4th ball
Tom - my question involves the nine year old league and the ruling on a 4th
ball as it relates to the ball being live if it is a passed ball or otherwise
dropped by the catcher, and the player who has been walked advancing to 2nd
base.

If, on a 4th ball, there is a passed ball or the catcher drops or otherwise
mishandles the ball, does the ball then become live whereby the player who
has been walked can advance to 2nd or 3rd base before the catcher throws
the ball back to the pitcher? If this is the case, then am I to assume the catcher
who does drop the ball or retrieves the ball can throw to first
and force an out?

Answer from Tom Clement, Babe Ruth Umpire-in-Chief:
First off, on ball four the batter/runner is entitled to 1st base. The batter may advance beyond first base, but does so at their own risk. Typically on ball four, the ball remains live, regardless whether the catcher catches or misses the ball. So as you see, the batter/runner may advance past 1st, but the catcher can throw to second and retire the runner. (top)

Updated: May 28, 2001