What is the ruling when a manager has to make a pitcher change?

Question

I ask because in a game the other day Ron Gardenhire of the Twins came out of the dugout but waited for his change decision until the Yankees announced Sexson as a pinch hitter. The Yankees coach started complaining that since Gardy came out of the dugout he had to change pitchers. The ump (incorrectly?) ruled he had to change.

Its my understanding that a manager had to cross the basepath before he was committed to that. In this case the 3rd base line.

Answer 1

if the manager comes out of the dugout twice in one inning to speak to the pitcher, the pitcher has to be removed.. its just a rule to keep the game moving

Answer 2

if it's the first time the manager comes out in an inning he can go all the way to the mound if he wants witth out making a pitching change but if he comes out a second time unless he's arguing a call he muct make a change. Hope thi helps.

Answer 3

I didn't see the game, but it's okay if it's the first coaching visit tat inning. If it's the second, the rules call for the pitcher's removal.  

It also appears that the coach/manager has to actually go to the mound or somehow communicate with the pitcher to count as a visit. (i.e. coach/manager talk catcher/infielder and that player relays the info to the pitcher counts as a visit.)

8.06 A professional league shall adopt the following rule pertaining to the visit of the manager or coach to the pitcher:

(a) This rule limits the number of trips a manager or coach may make to any one pitcher in any one inning;

(b) A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher’s automatic removal;

(c) The manager or coach is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat, but

(d) if a pinch-hitter is substituted for this batter, the manager or coach may make a second visit to the mound, but must remove the pitcher.

A manager or coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher’s rubber.

Rule 8.06 Comment: If the manager or coach goes to the catcher or infielder and that player then goes to the mound or the pitcher comes to him at his position before there is an intervening play (a pitch or other play) that will be the same as the manager or coach going to the mound.

Rule 8.06

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Any attempt to evade or circumvent this rule by the manager or coach going to the catcher or an infielder and then that player going to the mound to confer with the pitcher shall constitute a trip to the mound.

If the coach goes to the mound and removes a pitcher and then the manager goes to the mound to talk with the new pitcher, that will constitute one trip to that new pitcher that inning.

In a case where a manager has made his first trip to the mound and then returns the second time to the mound in the same inning with the same pitcher in the game and the same batter at bat, after being warned by the umpire that he cannot return to the mound, the manager shall be removed from the game and the pitcher required to pitch to the batter until he is retired or gets on base. After the batter is retired, or becomes a base runner, then this pitcher must be removed from the game. The manager should be notified that his pitcher will be removed from the game after he pitches to one hitter, so he can have a substitute pitcher warmed up.

The substitute pitcher will be allowed eight preparatory pitches or more if in the umpire’s judgment circumstances justify.