Rules, yet no penalty (helmet thread redux)
 

Had a similar, yet hypothetical, sitch a few years ago.

A coach and friend (imagine that!) put this to me." I've got a big tubby kid batting ninth and my speedster leading off. If Chubby gets on base, why can't I tell him to leave early on every pitch? If Speedy makes out, then Chubby goes back to first. He also ight get to 2B in time to break up a double play with his leviathan slide. Also, if Speedy hits a clean double, Chubby has a much better chance of making it safely to 3B, and rule 7.13 allows him to stay there. So why not try?"

I mulled this over, and, technically, the coach had a point. Plus he was, mirabile dictu, correct on the 7.13 sitch with Speedy's double. After much ponderation, I took this to Eastern Region HQ, where they gave me a cogent answer. I am posting this becuase it is akin to repeated removing of helmet.

I'll come back later with what I learned.

Ace

I would toss the coach if he was instructing his player to make a mockery of the game.

GO to Bat for Tubby
 

Relax it a bit. From what I read, I am sure the young man would prefer to sit in the shade than run to the bases for himself. Allow the coach to use a league approved courtesy runner, substitute a pinch runner, or ask league officials for a special consideration. Insert a medical condition release from a DOCTOR and allow the guy to play and someone else to run the bases. :cool:

I was a pretty good hitting 42 year old TUBBY a few years back playing in a 28+ MSBL league. One 28 year old semi-pro football kid with a body of a WWF star led the team in HR and RBIs. One 32 year old semi-pro basketball kid with combined 6-4 height and speed led the team in SBs and Rs scored. They both eat like horses. This here proud old fatty led the team when one added both Rs and RBIs together. Hey, I have had my share of pinch runners too and I am glad they scored all those run for me while I sat and watched from the dugout.:D

But is that is why I batted ninth?:mad:

I would never bat my slowest runner 9th because my fastest runner is likely batting 1st, and if he gets a hit (likely) I don't want someone in front of him to limit the number of bases he can make on the hit, or afterwards on a WP or PB.

But as an umpire I would just apply the rules when the time comes.

...why?
...

I'll take a shot, Ace.

• Coach is warned for coach interference and making a travesty of the game.

Play!
mick

Unless LL has it's own interpretation, "travesty of the game" is specifically defined in OBR and this ain't it.

What LL told me
 

Eastern Region said this is a repeated, intentional violation of a rule.

First, warn coach and player. If you feel player is being coached to continue to violate the rule, you can then eject both player and coach.

That's what they said, gang.

Ace

It's in line with the instructions on committing 4 illegal pitches (or going to the mouth 4 times) in order to bypass the requirement to pitch the intentional walk.

Deliberately leaving early is a intentional rules violation and subject to calling a forfeit.

It is not in the same league as helmet removal.