Usssa pitching rule

Coach904 · Nov 22, 2016

Pitcher B is in the starting lineup to be the pitcher. But when the defense takes the field at the beginning of the game pitcher A takes the mound and throws some warm up ptches before coach realizes that wrong pitcher is on the mound.
Question how many batters must pitcher b face before a change can be made.
Thanks

Comp · Nov 22, 2016

None. There is no requirement for a pitcher that throws warm up pitches must face a batter.

Snotbubbles · Nov 22, 2016

Section 5 of USSSA Rulebook:

A substitute or player who replaces a pitcher while the team is on defense shall
pitch to the first opponent to bat against the substitute until that batter has
advanced to first base, or has been put out or until there has been a third out. To
ensure that the requirements are fulfilled, the Umpire will deny any coach-defensive
player conference that will violate it.
A. The starting pitcher must face one complete batter. If the starting pitcher
is replaced before the first opposing batter has been put out or advanced to
first base, the pitcher may play or re-enter at another position, but shall not
return to pitch.
If a courtesy runner is used in the first half inning for the starting pitcher
or catcher who does not pitch or catch to start the first inning then the
player who was a courtesy runner is considered a substitute.
B. A player may be removed as a pitcher and returned as a pitcher only once
per inning. Provided the return as a pitcher does not violate either the
pitching, substitution, or charged conference rule. If the pitcher, because
of injury or being incapacitated, is replaced as pitcher and the above rule
is not satisfied; or if the pitcher’s substitute requires more warm-up throws
than permitted, the pitcher shall not return to the game as a pitcher.

Comp · Nov 22, 2016

Snotbubbles said:
Section 5 of USSSA Rulebook:

A substitute or player who replaces a pitcher while the team is on defense shall
pitch to the first opponent to bat against the substitute until that batter has
advanced to first base, or has been put out or until there has been a third out. To
ensure that the requirements are fulfilled, the Umpire will deny any coach-defensive
player conference that will violate it.
A. The starting pitcher must face one complete batter. If the starting pitcher
is replaced before the first opposing batter has been put out or advanced to
first base, the pitcher may play or re-enter at another position, but shall not
return to pitch.
If a courtesy runner is used in the first half inning for the starting pitcher
or catcher who does not pitch or catch to start the first inning then the
player who was a courtesy runner is considered a substitute.
B. A player may be removed as a pitcher and returned as a pitcher only once
per inning. Provided the return as a pitcher does not violate either the
pitching, substitution, or charged conference rule. If the pitcher, because
of injury or being incapacitated, is replaced as pitcher and the above rule
is not satisfied; or if the pitcher’s substitute requires more warm-up throws
than permitted, the pitcher shall not return to the game as a pitcher.

Except in the OP no pitcher has been replaced or substituted for. The ball was never live and the pitcher who threw warm up pitches never actually was in the pitching position.

Coach904 · Nov 23, 2016

So if she is not in the lineup as the pitcher the and has only three warm up pitches then a coach can put the scheduled starter in their with no penalty.

MTR · Nov 23, 2016

Coach904 said:
So if she is not in the lineup as the pitcher the and has only three warm up pitches then a coach can put the scheduled starter in their with no penalty.

Why should there be a penalty?

BretMan · Nov 26, 2016

There may be some rule set out there that says something like "if a player throws warm up pitches she becomes the new official pitcher" (perhaps Little League?), but that isn't the case for most.

Check the rule book for the definition of when a player is officially in the game, or when a pitching change is official. It's when the change is actually reported to the umpire and recorded on the official line-up card or, if not reported, when the ball becomes live and the pitcher assumes the pitching position. Neither of those happened here.

There's no penalty here because an official pitching change was never made.

Usssa pitching rule

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