Courtesy Runner Etiquette

[onetime1]

Fed rules of course. Two thoughts. If a team sends the same courtesy runner to run for both the pitcher and the catcher.. should we prevent/stop immediately? As an opposing coach should one report infraction immediately or wait for a pitch and claim this was an illegal subsitution and is there a penalty enforced?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by onetime1

Fed rules of course. Two thoughts. If a team sends the same courtesy runner to run for both the pitcher and the catcher.. should we prevent/stop immediately? As an opposing coach should one report infraction immediately or wait for a pitch and claim this was an illegal subsitution and is there a penalty enforced?

If you are keeping your lineup card correctly, you should realize immediately that the HC is attempting to have the same CR run for both the F1 and the F2, and you should tell the HC that he has to use a different substitute.

MTD, Sr.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by onetime1

As an opposing coach should one report infraction immediately or wait for a pitch and claim this was an illegal subsitution and is there a penalty enforced?

This is not an illegal substitution, since CRs must be eligible substitutes. It's an unreported substitution. The CR is now in the lineup, and the P or C has been out of the game once and can reenter.

However, this can't take place in the same half-inning.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by CT1

This is not an illegal substitution, since CRs must be eligible substitutes. It's an unreported substitution. The CR is now in the lineup, and the P or C has been out of the game once and can reenter.

However, this can't take place in the same half-inning.

2-36-3g "An illegal substitute is a player who violates the courtesy runner rule." See also case CR1.

IOW, onetime is correct that it's a illegal substitute.

So, yes, stop it. IF it's not stopped, then the player is out and restricted. THe opposing coach doesn't need to wait for a pitch before asking about it (but if he asks "too early" then there's the risk that the umpire wil just change it in the name of game management -- so I'd at least wait for the ball to become live).

[bluehair]

Unless this is a higher level game that I remember how they use CR, I don't remember which CR goes with F1/F2. And I don't want to pull out lineups to check every time they are used. On the back of left hand I have written (see below). I have a felt tipped marker in my ballbag and write the number of CRs on my hand as they come in. And all I need to do is look at the back of my hand to verify that CRs are done legally. DC is for the inning number where a defensive conference was used.

_____H___V
P___21___8
C __12___22
DC___3___6
_____4
_____5

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bluehair

Unless this is a higher level game that I remember how they use CR, I don't remember which CR goes with F1/F2. And I don't want to pull out lineups to check every time they are used. On the back of left hand I have written (see below). I have a felt tipped marker in my ballbag and write the number of CRs on my hand as they come in. And all I need to do is look at the back of my hand to verify that CRs are done legally. DC is for the inning number where a defensive conference was used.

_____H___V
P___21___8
C __12___22
DC___3___6
_____4
_____5

I pull out the lineup card for each CR. This kind of thread is exactly why I do that. You can be very quick with a lineup card and still verify that the right person is coming in to CR in that spot.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by bluehair

Unless this is a higher level game that I remember how they use CR, I don't remember which CR goes with F1/F2. And I don't want to pull out lineups to check every time they are used. On the back of left hand I have written (see below). I have a felt tipped marker in my ballbag and write the number of CRs on my hand as they come in. And all I need to do is look at the back of my hand to verify that CRs are done legally. DC is for the inning number where a defensive conference was used.

_____H___V
P___21___8
C __12___22
DC___3___6
_____4
_____5

And then when you sweat and iut rubs off? OR when it gets on your uniform?

And, how will you know if the CR has alredy participated in the game if you don't have it on the lineup card?

I don't see how what you are doing is any better than writing it on the lineup card (and if you don't get lineups then at least take a piece of paper with you).

[bluehair]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And then when you sweat and iut rubs off? When it is hot and I sweat, it doesn't work. I can't even write on a wet hand. OR when it gets on your uniform? Never had that happen.

And, how will you know if the CR has alredy participated in the game if you don't have it on the lineup card? Good point. I do look at lineup cards in between innings a few times during games.

I don't see how what you are doing is any better than writing it on the lineup card (and if you don't get lineups then at least take a piece of paper with you). The OP had to do with watching for the same CR being used for both F1 and F2. My writing on hand method is not any better than writing on a linecard, just a quicker method to check it. YMMV.

...

[onetime1]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

2-36-3g "An illegal substitute is a player who violates the courtesy runner rule." See also case CR1.

IOW, onetime is correct that it's a illegal substitute.

So, yes, stop it. IF it's not stopped, then the player is out and restricted. THe opposing coach doesn't need to wait for a pitch before asking about it (but if he asks "too early" then there's the risk that the umpire wil just change it in the name of game management -- so I'd at least wait for the ball to become live).

So from a coaching standpoint.. wait until the ball becomes live that make the accusation of an illegal CR. Then the runner is out and in 1 of the 3 for that half inning? and restricted to the dugout

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by onetime1

So from a coaching standpoint.. wait until the ball becomes live that make the accusation of an illegal CR. Then the runner is out and in 1 of the 3 for that half inning? and restricted to the dugout

I'm not sure that I could have been more clear on the proper ruling.