I manage a 9-10 ll minors team in a league with 19 teams that play on 4 or 5 different fields. The league officials have stated that it is the manager's responsibility to ensure the opposing pitcher has eligibility (no more than 6 innings per week (sun-sat); 1 day's rest for 3 or less; 3 days rest for more than 3); the scorebooks are kept in each scorekeepers box at the respective field; Because of rainouts, etc numerous games are always rescheduled and, usually played on a different field than originally schedueld;
Now the scenerio, the opposing manager in a game last Saturday pitched a 9 yo 4 innings; I got suspicious when I jokingly asked him about pitcher eligibilty for this boy and he didn't reply quickly and eye-to-eye; I spent the next hour searching and found out that the same boy pitched 5 innings the previous Monday - 9 innings in one week; I have no real recourse since the rules are clear about protesting illegal pitchers; The league VP confronted the individual and the manager didn't care that he violated the rules; My real question is, how do other leagues handle the monitoring of pitcher eligibility as to make it a little easier for managers to check and unscrupulous managers be wary of someone watching?
How can or why doesn't this rule actually have some teeth for violators ? if you don't get caught, it appears that there is nothing that can be done with respect to LL rules;
thanks to all
Dennis
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