Screwy wording

[Dakota]

Originally posted by greymule
When a coach announces to us that he is sending in a courtesy runner, and that CR for one reason or another cannot legally enter, do we allow the CR and then assess penalties, or do we tell the coach he cannot enter that CR?

I will tell the coach if a player he wants to enter as a courtesy runner cannot legally be the CR. No violation has occurred yet, and I should not enter on the lineup card a player who is not legally entitled to that position.

That is different, though, from prompting the BR / coach that players need to touch the bases.

It is true that by rule the BR cannot be declared out for merely entering the dugout during a dead ball, in the situation described that is not what she is doing. She is failing to touch awarded bases in legal order (Rule 8-3I). This becomes clear once the CR goes to the base. Up until that time, the BR may still come out of the dugout and touch 1st.

I see the preventative umpiring point, I'm struggling with the idea of the umpire reminding players and coaches that they need to touch the bases.