1. Sixteen Innings will be the maximum total number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a given week. (For purpose of reference. Sunday through Saturday is a week.
2. A pitcher may not pitch more than a total of NINE INNINGS in any one day or on two consecutive days. The ninth inning must be followed by two days of rest.
3. If a pitcher pitches on any two consecutive days with the combined total greater than four innings, he will follow with two days off for rest.
The penalty for violation of the pitching limitation rule will be forfeiture of the contest. The pitching limitation rule and the penalty for violation is a recommendation of your Baseball Coaches Advisory Committee.
Coaches, it is your responsibility for making certain that your pitchers are complying with the pitching limitation rule that follows. Obviously, umpires are aware of the rule in that the rule is outlined on your line-up cards, however, you are the responsible party to make certain that a young man does not violate the pitching limitation rule as it pertains to the number of innings he may pitch in a given week. Keep good records. Keeping good records of number of innings pitched is certainly the key to alleviate any difficulties with reference to violating the pitching limitation rule. It is not a difficult rule as outlined in a, b, c, below and, of course, your line-up cards provide space for probable pitchers, uniform number, number of eligible innings remaining in the weeks, etc. Most of you have individuals who keep your book for you anyway so it would not be difficult to have your official scorer of yourself maintain those records as you move through the week as it pertains to the pitching limitation rule. There are a number of examples that follow and your review of those examples would be advantageous to your thorough knowledge of the pitching limitation rule.
In summary, the pitching limitation rule is nine Innings on any given day, followed with two days rest. If a pitcher pitches more than four innings, up to a maximum of nine innings, on any two consecutive days, he, will follow with two days rest. The maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a week is 16.
Note: As part of the pitching limitation rule, one pitch constitutes an Inning having been pitched.
Examples:
a) A pitcher pitches nine Innings on Monday. How many days rest are required? Two days rest, meaning Tuesday and Wednesday; he may next pitch on Thursday.
b) A pitcher pitches four innings Monday. How many Innings can he pitch on Tuesday? He may pitch the maximum of fine innings on Tuesday followed by two days rest.
c) A pitcher pitches three Innings Tuesday, two Innings Wednesday. He must now follow with two days rest (Thursday and Friday). He can next pitch on Saturday.
d) A pitcher pitches nine Innings on Saturday. He must now follow with two days rest (Sunday and Monday). He can next pitch on Tuesday.
e) A pitcher pitches seven innings on Wednesday. When can he pitch again? He can pitch on Thursday for the maximum of two innings. He must then follow with two days rest.
f) A pitcher pitches two innings Thursday and five innings on Friday. He will now follow with two days of rest (Saturday and Sunday). He can next pitch on Monday. Remember, pitching in any combination of innings greater than four innings up to the maximum of nine innings on any two consecutive days will result in two days rest; OR pitching the maximum of nine innings in any one day requires two days rest.
g) A pitcher pitches two innings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Legal: He has pitched 12 of his allowable 16 innings for that week.
h) A pitcher pitches eight innings Wednesday and one inning Tuesday. Legal, and he will follow with two days of rest.
i) A pitcher pitches eight innings Monday; does not pitch on Tuesday, however, does pitch on Wednesday. How many can he pitch on Wednesday? He can pitch the maximum of eight innings on Wednesday because those eight innings, added to the eight innings he pitched Monday, give him his maximum of 16 innings for the week. Had he only pitched seven innings on Monday, he could have pitched the maximum nine innings on Wednesday and reached his maximum 16 for the week.
j) A pitcher pitches six Innings Wednesday; does not pitch Thursday, but does pitch on Friday. How many can he pitch on Friday? Maximum nine innings, which would give him a total of 15 Innings for the week.
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