[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Gre144
FED Rules

I. Today, the coach used a courtesy runner for the second baseman. The defensive coach brings this point up to me. I did not enforce the rule for illegal substitution because the offensive coach actually used a legal substitute but he called him in as a courtesy runner. In short, the coach says, "Courtesy runner Blue" . Defense discovers that the courtesy runner is for the second basemen. I explain that even though the coach called him in as a courtesy runner, he was a legal substitute because he was coming off the bench and had not played in the game. No arguments and everyone was happy. But did I make the right call or should have I called him out and ejected him for being an illegal courtesy runner?

What you should have done is not allow the "CR" for F4. "Coach, you can only CR for F1 or F2." or, "Coach, you mean a sub, not a CR, right?"

II. After reviewing the penalties for illegal substitution there were some circumstances that I thought of that I do not know how to resolve.

2A) For example, let's assume that an illegal substitute hits a grounder and gets thrown out out first. Discovery is made before the next pitch. Would there be two outs? (one for the out on the play and one for the out for being an illegal substitute); Or one out in which the out for being an illegal substitute supersedes an out on the illegal substitute on the play?(one out as is the case for an improper batter 7-1-2-exception)

Only one out. The illegal sub is still ejected. Other runners (if any) return.

2B) If an illegal substitute for B4 is at bat and the discovery is made immediately is he replaced by: B4 or a legal substitute for B4?; or is he replaced by B5?

The illegal sub is out and ejected. B5 is now the batter (just as if the illegal sub had made an out). B4 can reenter the game, if he has reentry privveliges.

2C) Illegal Substitute S1 who replaces B4 hits a single. Discovery is made before the next legal pitch. Would B4 be the next proper batter or B5?

The illegal sub is out and ejected. B5 is now the batter (just as if the illegal sub had made an out). B4 can reenter the game, if he has reentry privveliges.

2D) B4 hits a triple but bats out of order. Discovery is made before the next legal pitch but the batter who is up next is an illegal substitute who is in the batter's box(no pitch has been thrown). Usually, in B4's case, the proper batter would be declared out and all runners would be returned to their base at the time of the pitch. But according to 3-1-1-1 the penalty for illegal substitution shall supersede the penalty for batting out of order. So does this mean that you call the illegal substitute out, eject him and let the hit stand for the improper batter B4 since the penalty for illegal substitution supersedes the penalty for batting out of order?

No. The "penalty for illegal sub suprecedes penalty for BOO" is meant to apply only if the illegal sub is the one batting out of order.

This particular play is not covered, IMHO, in the rules or case book. I'd enforce whatever error was discovered first -- in this instance, the BOO. So, B4 is removed from the bases, whoever was supposed to bat is out, the next batter is due up. If the illegal sub now appears in the box, another out can be declared.