courtesy runner....

[DG]

Originally Posted by mikebran

Of course, the replacement CR must be legal.. but the umpire does not make that determination at the time.

But as someone already said, and we know.. a player who has appeared as a CR cannot hit or pinch run in that half inning. But I still want to say it is not the umpire purview to tell the OFF coach this player is not legal. Let me know if I am wrong by statute.

I don't permit courtesy runners who are not legit. No umpire should. I also don't allow courtesy runners to be substitutes in the same half inning.

My partner and I had a situation a couple weeks back. CR was sent in for the pitcher at 1b, ball was made live. Before the pitch the coach called time and wanted to change and have the CR replace the runner on 2b as a sub. We said no. When he was made CR for pitcher and ball was made live he was in the game and could not then be used otherwise in the same half inning. We told him he could sub him later for whomever he wanted, but not in that half inning.

Point is, umpire should not allow improper courtesy runners or improper substitutes. The only illegal sub ejections should be for something I was not told about and therefore did not know.

By statute we announce each substitution. This includes a responsibility to prevent improper or illegal subs if we know one is about to be made.