Smyrna-Clayton: Pitch Count

Wednesday, April 1
Pitch Count Info
 Changes to the 2009 Regular Season Pitching Regulations

For Baseball Divisions of Little League®

Regulation VI – PITCHERS –

(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)

(b) Players once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers.
Junior, Senior, and Big League Divisions only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.

(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:

League Age

17-18            105 pitches per day
13-16              95 pitches per day
11-12              85 pitches per day
9-10                75 pitches per day
7-8                  50 pitches per day

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

Smyrna Clayton Little League has chosen Pitching option #2 for the 2009 Season- the rules is as follows:

(d) Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.

• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.

• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.

• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

(e) Deleted for 2009

(f) Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.

(g) The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.

(h) The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.

(i) Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.

(j) A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. (See Regulation V – Selection of Players)

(k) A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (Exception: In the Big League Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games in a day.)

NOTES:

1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately.

2. Pitches delivered in games declared "Regulation Tie Games" or "Suspended Games" shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.

3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.

Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required three days of rest.

Example 2: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required three days of rest.

Example 3: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous three days.

NOTE: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the "calendar week" with regard to pitching eligibility.

 

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Little League Pitch Count Questions and Answers –    

1. Why has Little League changed the pitching regulation for all baseball divisions?

Recently, researchers and medical professionals in the field of sports medicine have determined that the actual number of pitches thrown (i.e., pitch count) is a safer way to regulate pitching in youth baseball. Little League has a rich history of pioneering baseball safety innovations. As the world’s largest organized youth sports program, Little League is again taking a leadership position in youth sports safety.

2. How will a league determine who is responsible for counting the pitches?

Selecting the person responsible for counting pitches will be a decision of each local league. That person’s pitch count will be the offi cially recognized pitch count for the game.  In most leagues, this responsibility will rest with the game’s offi cial scorekeeper. In that case, since a scorekeeper already keeps track of the balls and strikes on each batter, so he or she will additionally need to keep track of the number of foul batted balls that are hit with two strikes. Each pitcher’s pitch count is computed by adding the number of balls and strikes, the number of foul balls hit with two strikes, and the number of fair batted balls.  Other leagues might assign a separate person who simply keeps track of every pitch on a piece of paper. Little League International will provide local leagues with a suggested form for this in the coming months. Leagues also can use any of the various digital or mechanical pitch counting tools that are available commercially.  Still other leagues might assign the task to one or both of the managers, or to one of the base umpires.

3. What is the penalty for violating the pitch count regulation?

Violating the regular season pitch count regulation can be protested in accordance with Rule 4.19. And, as with all regular season games, the local league (by action of the local league Board of Directors through the Protest Committee) resolves all protests. The local league Protest Committee could decree a forfeit, or not, as it sees fi t.  The Board of Directors also could suspend or remove managers who willfully and persistently violate any rule or regulation.

4. What is the procedure for Interleague Play games?

As with any procedure of this nature, the Interleague Play Committee (formed from among personnel in the leagues involved before the start of the season) should decide this. The procedure for counting pitches should be agreed upon between all leagues involved in an interleague arrangement before the fi rst game is played.

5. What is meant by “calendar days” in the regulation?

The principle of “calendar days” remains the same. A calendar day is one full day as it is seen on a calendar. A calendar day begins at midnight and ends at midnight the following evening. 

Example: If a pitcher in the Little League Major Division throws 70 pitches in a game on Saturday morning, that pitcher cannot pitch again until Wednesday, when he/she has had three calendar days of rest (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday). It makes no difference what time of day the pitcher pitched on Saturday, as the rest period does not begin until midnight that night.

6. Can the same pitcher pitch in both games of a doubleheader played on the same day?

No. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (Exception: In the Big League Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games in a day.)

7. If a pitcher is pitching a perfect game or no hitter and reaches his or her maximum pitch count, does he or she have to be removed as a pitcher, or can he/she continue until the perfect game or no hitter is lost?

Any pitcher, without regard to his/her effectiveness, must be removed when he or she reaches the limit prescribed in the regulation. Remember, no game is more important than protecting pitchers’ arms.

8. Is there a limit to the number of 12 year olds that can pitch in a week?

No. A manager may use as many 12-year-old pitchers in a week as he/she chooses.

9. Can 12 year olds pitch in the minors?

No. The regulation prohibits 12 year olds from pitching in the Minor Division. The Minor Division must be considered an instructional division for players who, because of age or ability, are not placed in the Major Division.  It should be the goal of every league to place all 12 year olds in the Major Division who are capable of playing at that level.

Note: A local Little League is limited to only one Major Division, but may have multiple levels of Minor Division play (player pitch, coach pitch, machine pitch, etc.).

10. Are warm up pitches calculated in the pitch count for a pitcher?

No. As always, however, umpires should be mindful that the rules permit a returning pitcher to have eight preparatory pitches, or one minute, whichever comes fi rst. (See Rule 8.04.)

11. If a Major Division pitcher has completed six innings in a game, and the game is tied, will that pitcher be permitted to pitch in the seventh inning?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of innings a pitcher can pitch in a day. A limit is placed on the number of pitches only.

12. Is the Tournament Pitching Rule the same as the regular season regulation?

The Tournament Pitching Rule is similar to the regular season rule, but there are some modifi cations.

13. What about breaking pitches (curve balls, sliders, etc.)?

As of now, there is no solid medical evidence that these pitches are detrimental. However, Little League and many experts recommend they not be thrown until age 14. We are currently conducting an epidiological study on this issue to see if these pitches are harmful.

14. Why is there a regulations prohibiting a player from moving from pitcher to catcher in the same day?

Medical authorities and experts say that a player who warms up to pitch, and then pitches, should not play catcher for the remainder of the day. Doing so does not provide enough “cool down” time for such a player. The same is not true for catchers who may become pitchers.


Handout: Pitch Count Log

SCLL Pitcher Eligibility Form
Handout: SCLL Pitcher Eligibility Form