Josh, perhaps the pitcher had committed a balk before Gary actually called "time." Not having seen it directly myself, it's difficult to explain exactly what Gary may have seen that led him to call the balk. I'm sorry if this answer isn't very helpful, but absent me contacting Gary and asking him directly, I'm making an educated guess based on what you said occurred, assuming, of course, it happened exactly as you said it did.

Hey ump---hope this season is starting off well for you....on Monday I'll be umpiring my first game in 2009, starting my 20th year of youth ball.....i'm pretty excited about that!

I have a question regarding rule 8.06c that came up in the Mets/Padres game tonight. After the SD reliever walked two consecutive batters, the pitching coach came out for a visit as Luis Castillo was announced.

After throwing 2 balls that weren't even close to the strike zone, I guess Bud Black had enough and wanted a change. He hesistated twice coming out of the dugout, based on I think Paul Emmel saying no. However, Gary Darling came in from first base and said yes Black could change pitchers.

How can this be?
8.06c states that a manager or coach is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound whle the same batter is at bat....

My rule book is a few years old, but even underneath that is a specific paragraph addressing this stating that the manager would be ejected and the pitcher forced to finish the AB (except in case of injury of course), and then would be removed from the game.

I'm wondering how Black was able to change pitchers in this instance?

As always I appreciate your time in responding to this inquiries---as not only do they help me understanding what goes on the big field, but helps ensure that I don't make the same mistakes on my own fields at home!

Thanks
Josh

When a runner is stealing home, does the pitcher's throw home to try to get him count as a pitch?

Josh,

I started a thread on this on the two major officials' forums. The strange thing was that I started the thread a couple days after this happened. The Internet was eerily silent on this. No one knows why, but this much is known: the crew f'd up big time. The rule was clearly violated, and the crew chief let it be. Not good.

The crew erred, and they are aware of it.




If he is throwing while in contact with the rubber as he normally would, then it is a pitch. If he disengages and throws home, which is highly unlikely in your scenario, then it is not a pitch and the batter is not permitted to swing at it.