pitching rule

Question
QUESTION: I had an actual play occur in 18U slowpitch boys involving my shortstop and pitcher.  During an inning change, my shortstop went to the mound and acted as if he was going to throw a pitch before tossing the ball to my pitcher.  My shortstop had no intention of pitching.  He was goofing off.  The home plate umpire came to me at the start of the inning and told me the shortstop had to pitch to at least one batter because he took the mound between innings.  The home plate umpire made my shortstop pitch to the first batter in the inning.  Was this the correct call?  I have never encountered this rule and have searched the ASA rules looking for it but cannot find it.  Should my shortstop been forced to pitch to one batter or throw one pitch and change?

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

In ASA no such rule, that's way over-officiating IMO and wrong too.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That was my thought as the situation transpired.  Should i have stopped the game and asked the umpire to show me the rule in the rule book or would I have had to play the remainder of the game under protest.  I was just wondering if arguing the point at that particular time would have stopped the umpire from making my shortstop pitch to the one batter.  The coach of the other team actually instigated the whole scenario.  He told the umpire.  I guess the umpire did not know there was no rule.  Could I have required the umpire to show me the rule in the rule book at that point?

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

Please...NEVER ask the umpire to show you the rule in the rule book...that just pis--- us off and you're not going to get it anyway.  

If you want to simply approach the umpire and calmly say "Blue, I believe your ruling is a mis-application of the playing rules, I am protesting the game, please mark the time and inform the other manager of the protest".

mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How long do you have after a game to file a protest?  How would the protest proceed and what would happen if I won the protest?

Answer
Hi Jason,

you must make the protest at the time of the ruling,
ASA 9-2. PROTESTS.
A. Misinterpretation of a playing rule - must be made:
1. before the next pitch legal or illegal,
2. before the next play
3. before all infielders have left fair territory,
4. on the last play of the game, before the umpires leave live ball territory

leagues have different requirements, some use written and some just a phone call.  That's up up your LD.

If you lose the game, and win the protest the game starts over at the time of the protest.  if you win the game the protest is mute.

ASA 9-6. The written protest should contain the following information:
A. The date, time and place of the game.
B. The names of the umpires and scorers.
C. The rule and section of the official rules or local rules under which the protest
is made.
D. The information, details and conditions relevant to the decision to protest.
E. All essential facts concerning the matter protested.

Section 7. The decision rendered on a protested game must result in one of the following:
A. The protest is considered to be invalid and the game score stands as
played.
B. When a protest is determined to be valid because of the misinterpretation of
a playing rule, the decision will be corrected and the game shall be replayed
from the point at which the incorrect decision was made. If the protesting
team wins the game the protest then becomes meaningless

Mark