Is relieving a starting pitcher like being in a relay race, because you have to warm up in the bull pen,?

before getting handed the ball . Are the number of pitches thrown in the bull pen counted as a statistic in determining the usage of that reliever in a season of baseball ?|||No, I don't think I'd make that analogy. None of the pitches thrown prior to the batter stepping into the box and the umpire signaling "play" are official. The only pitches that you care about statistically are those thrown during an official plate appearance by a batter of the opposing team.|||It sounds like you have never watched a baseball game on TV. Try it... you might learn something.|||I'm going to say no. A relay race (I'm assuming you are talking about running) is a set of 4 runners who's order or personnel can't be changed once the race has started. Each runner must run a certain distance. A relief pitcher may face only one batter but could face several. The manager can pitch in anyone on his roster who hasn't played or is in the game already. Warm up pitches are not counted in stats. The coaching staff may keep track of them though.|||no, I also have an anology....being in the bullpen is like heating up your car in the winter, you dont use it until its heated up or it will break down...in this case you give your pitcher time to throw some pitches before he steps on the mound...you wouldnt want him to get injured/unprepared during a game.....|||No, it is not like that at all.





For starters, there is no formula for determining when you should turn over the ball to the next pitcher. The starting pitcher can pitch an entire game, pitch only seven innings, or pitch less. I have seen starters get pulled in the first inning without recording an out, resulting in an Innings Pitched (IP) stat of 0 (IP increases by 1/3 per out recorded).





The number of pitches in warmup is not an official stat and can differ by the pitcher. Sometimes another starting pitcher is brought into the game in relief. These pitchers usually requre more time to prepare than pitchers who come in for one or two innings. The manager usually signals the bull pen when relief pitchers are required. Similarly, a signal is sent back when the pitcher is ready.





Once the pitcher takes the mound (either at the beginning of an inning or introduction into the game) then there is a fixed amount of warmup pitches that he can take from the mound before the inning starts or resumes. Off hand, I am not sure of the number but I think it is 8. The only time this is not so is if a pitcher is being relieved either due to injury or ejection by umpire.





So the relay analogy does not really work too well here. since there are no fixed intervals when the pitchers need to be relieved.|||Well, I see that you guys have it covered, so this "old woman" will move on to another question.