Visitors Bullpens

After watching Ardrey Kell pitcher Alex Wood get hurt last year after not being allowed to properly warm up in the bullpen before pitching, something happened last night that actually scared me.

I know that umpires review the playing field to certify that it is safe before a game begins, does this include visitors bullpens?

Last night a relief pitcher and catcher went to warm up in the visitors bullpen and found that the lighting was so poor that it was not safe. They stopped in the home team bullpen on the way back to our dugout to loosen up (you have to walk right by it on the way back). Once they started to throw, an assistant coach kicked them out even after being told about the lighting problem.

Do umpires clarify this and make sure the areas are safe? The game started while the sun was still up, so I am not sure how he would check this out...??????

 

Thank You!

You are completely right about the visitor's bullpen problems. I would say that from the fields I've seen that 85% of the visitor bullpen mounds are incapable of being thrown off of. I think this is one of the biggest problems in high school baseball and action should be taken to eliminate it. I know at Watauga the visitor bullpen is equal to the home bullpen, which is how it should be at every ballpark. I think not keeping up with your visitor bullpen as a coach is a small way of cheating the other team and the game. I could not agree with you more PlayLaughLive!

 

What bullpen are you referring too? I played with Alex Wood and his injuries were caused from a history of arm injuries. At the Providence game he went over to the home bullpen to warm up and got kicked off by the umpire. I dont believe you are correct that his injury can be blamed as the result of a bad bullpen.

 

Not What I Said

Not referring to Providence at all - the incident referred to was at the substitute field in the three game western series. The issue with Alex Wood that I saw in this case was with the umpire not understanding the rule about a player to protect the catcher/pitcher while they warmed up in the bullpen - not the actual physical bullpen in this case.

More to the point, not being able to properly warm up was a possible contributing factor to an injury.

IMHO, the need to clarify where the visitor mound is located and that it is adequate and safe before the game begins needs to be added to the checklist for the umpiring crew to check before play begins.
If it is found not to be adequate or well lit for safety etc., then a decision needs to be made on how to solve this problem before play is allowed to begin and not allowed to sink to the level of an assistant coach bullying kids from the other team and (self deleted by PlayLaughLive)

 

USE COMMON SENSE

We had to relocate our visitor's bullpen due to a new weightroom. Is our new one ideal? Maybe not but I always tell the opposing coaches that is there's a problem we will share our pen with them. We have a double. I do understand that this is not always the case. I have been places in years past where there was no visitors mound and when I asked about using the home team mound, i was told "tough shi*". Anybody with any common courtesy will not have a problem sharing if the visitor's pen is inadequate... Aw well.....

 

bullpens

I think the visitor bullpens should be equal to the home bullpens. When I first got to Watauga the visitor bullpen was 55 ft. This was some great advantage- I don't think so. A school we played last year had a batting practice box as the visitor bullpen. If the visitor bullpen is bad you should ask to use the home side. If the other coach doesn't let you use it- it's on like a neckbone!

 

...and you don't want to get on the bad side of 29er.....that foot on your neckbone hurts. Believe me, mine still aches.

 

Shame More Coaches Don't Take This Approach...

Its a shame that some assistant coach decided that possibly preventing a kid from getting hurt was less important than winning...thought safety was first on everyone's agenda. I learned a lesson...

Not a good reflection on the program in general either.

 

I wouldn't be too harsh on the coach or the program. Maybe they need to do something about the lights. I don't know, but the thing is where the bullpen is located. I wouldn't want to have an opposing coach's ears in my dugout during a game...and from Tuscan's experience at Providence, he listened to everything the previous SM coach was saying...including sensitive stuff.

I agree, if safety is a concern, but heck, I'd put out a plate down the left sideline like they used to . I don't know why they moved it. Bullpen mounds are overrated anyway. No two are ever alike and they are never like the mound they are going out to.

 

I guess we disagree...

Braves - it doesn't happen often, but we may have to agree to disagree on this one...

A warmup mound is used to get a relief pitcher warmed up properly before entering the game to help minimize injury. This is not where he will fix his pitching for the game - if he is not ready by game day he will not be ready with a few extra tosses in the bullpen. But he can and should be able to get loose to prevent getting hurt.

Due to pace of play restrictions, a relief pitcher is only allowed a few pitches on the game mound before he has to throw to the first batter (unless the previous pitcher was replaced due to injury - then the relief pitcher is allowed as many pitches as he feels he needs to properly warm up to prevent injury - further proof written into the rules of the game that indicate how important this is to prevent injury).

A proper warmup is a big part of this injury prevention. If you don't want the other team to be able to warm up close to your dugout, be sure the visitors mound is ready and safe before the situation arises.

IF you didn't, or something there has changed (i.e. lights, etc.) - own up to it - and let the kid warm up.

10 minutes 15 feet behind your dugout isn't James Bond spying - its common courtesy, looking out for the welfare of ALL the kids, and showing a little class.