Expert: George W. Case III - 10/26/2009

Question
How long has it been since a manager and or coach has been limited
to 2 trips to the mound before taking out the pitcher? A friend
of mine says that in the 1960's there was no limit to the amount
of trips a manager could make.

Answer
I cannot tell you exactly when the rule was changed but prior to the change, probably sometime around 1970 the manager was allowed to make as many trips as possible - the rule change was a result of several factors - trying to speed up the game - has not really happened - the game has actually gotten longer, unfortunately and the change in the managerial strategy of handling pitchers - used to be a starting pitcher was expected to start and finish a game - if necessary, a relief pitcher or pitchers would be used - today the starting pitcher usually will go 6 innings, then a set up man - middle reliever and/or relievers for the 7th & 8th innings (sometimes a set up man will be brought in to pitch to only a certain batter and then he will be removed for another pitcher depending on the hitter, the score, number of men on base etc - then the closer will come in usually for the 9th inning (although on occasion such as game 6 of the AL Championship game, Mariano Rivera actually pitched the eighth and ninth innings) - often more than 3-4 pitchers are used in today's game - and in the American League, the DH has probably contributed to this situation in that a manager can make all kinds of pitching changes, depending on the situation, because the pitcher does not have to bat - so you have a situation where the pitching coach might go out to discuss the specific way to pitch to a hitter and then the manager follows up that conversation by making a trip to the mound and is then is forced to take the pitcher out of the game - actually, which, in my opinion lengthens the game - this happened the other night in the Angels/Yankees game - the Angels pitcher did not want to come out of the game but the manager had to take him out because of the two trip rule