[greymule]

Actually, Whiskers, you've got me technically. But take the extreme example--a batter falls down five feet short of first, the coach picks her up and plops her on 1B. You know that a casebook would rule that an out, regardless of the definition of "runner." I don't have the rule book with me, but I believe it says the runner is out if assisted by "anyone other than another runner." So here's another example: Runner trips over 2B and falls, F6 helps her up and shoves her on her way safely toward 3B. Physical assist by someone other than another runner. Out, according to the book.