Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 2/18/2007

Question
Prelude comment:  I only wish the Baseball Rule Books were more similar..... <sigh>

The NFHS Rule book states that, between innings, a returning Pitcher has only 5 pitches or 1 minute to complete his warm up throws.....I believe the Pro Rule Book states the same.....but what does the NCAA Rule Book say about this?  

If the changes of innings in the NCAA takes an extended period of time because the Pitcher takes an excessive amount of time to leave the dugout and complete his warm-up pitches, as an Umpire, is there any rule that equips us with the tools to speed up this transition?

Answer
Carl,

In the 2007 NCAA rulebook:

Rule Section 9 clause i states "At the beginning of an inning, throw more than five pitches to the catcher. A relief pitcher is allowed eight pitches, but these pitches shall not consume more than one minute. In case of an injury or an ejection of the pitcher, the umpire-in-chief shall allow the relief pitcher an adequate
time to warm up;"

Granted, there is some wiggle room here, but I interpret this to mean that 5 warm-ups are allowed as long as they take no more then 1 minute.

Like you, I see no rule that designates how much time is allowed between innings.  

I know this doesn't help much - sorry about that.

Brian