Expert: Rick Bundy - 5/25/2011

Question
First question; is it legal to pitch first pitcher in 1st inning, second pitcher 2nd inning, first pitcher in 3rd inning, second pitcher in 4th inning, first pitcher in 5th inning, second pitcher in 6th inning? Second question; If a relief pitcher comes to the mound with 2 outs and his first throw is to first base where he picks off the runner for the 3rd out, is the pitcher charged with pitching an inning?

Answer
Jeff:  Thank you for your question.

I can't imagine a league where it would allow a coach to use a pitching rotation as you have described.  That particular rotation is a recipe for arm injuries for the pitchers involved, if not in the present, certainly down the road.

Little League has a rule whereby they will allow a pitcher, who has been removed; but remained in the game, to return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game; but only once per game.

This rule is still pushing the limits on kids arms.  Why would they let a kid go back into the game as a pitcher, after he has let his arm get cold; cold at least by the standards used as a pitcher, not a position player.  

Looking at MLB.  A starting pitcher goes out and does his pregame warm ups in the bullpen, timing his finish to correspond with entering the game in a short amount of time, thus not letting his arm get cold.

Should the weather be questionable, and the start of the game delayed, teams put those pitchers on a clock, at some point if the game has not started, they will not let them warm up again; they will go to another pitcher.  This is because it is not a good situation for their arms.

The second part of your question, I would say the relief pitcher would not be charged with an inning pitched.  While he officially was entered as a pitcher and recorded an out, he never threw a pitch.  Someone could argue that he was officially entered, therefore he should be credited with 1/3 of an innings work.  That would be fine; but it shouldn't count against the number of innings he could pitch in that week.

Yours in baseball,

Rick