Ineligible Pitchers Protest--Ruling Help

[Rich Ives]

Bob - I understand your point, but consider the following:

Per LL 4.19(d), use of on inelligible pitcher is a protest situation. This, per 4.19)c), automatically causes the umpire to become involved. In this case, where the violating manager admitted it and plead that the regulation should not apply, the umpires should have checked the regulation and made a ruling.

Also, per LL 4.19(f) Note 2:, the umpire is one of the officials specifically charged with preventing the infraction if possible.