Illegal Substitution
In the first inning, #1 was entered as the courtesy runner for the pitcher, #5. In the fourth inning, #1 again ran as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. In the seventh inning, #1 entered as a substitute for the right fielder, #9, and later scored. The opposing coach said that #1 is a illegal substitute because #1 entered the game for the third time and that the run by #1 should not count. After checking the line-up card, it turned out that #5 was listed as playing third base. Does the run count? Back to Quiz
Run Counts.
The use of an unreported substitute is handled as a protest by the offended team while the unreported substitute player is in the game.
Therefore, back in the 1st inning when the offended coach thought that #1 had entering the game for third base (instead of what the umpire announced as #1 being a courtesy runner for the pitcher), the offended coach needed to make the protest in that inning while #1 was in the game running as an unreported substitute for third base (and therefore not a courtesy runner for the pitcher). Since no protest was made in the 1st inning, all actions in the 1st inning stand and are legal. Therefore, right or wrong, as reported by the plate umpire, #1 was the courtesy runner for the pitcher and did not enter the game.
The same would be true for the 4th inning. All actions stand and are legal.
This brings us to the 7th inning when the offended coach finally decides to protest an unreported illegal substitute player. At this point in the game, #1 has either legally entered the game the 1st time for the right fielder #9 (if reported to the plate umpire in the 7th inning) or is unreported (if not reported to the plate umpire), but in either case is not an illegal substitute player.
Therefore, by rule, the run by #1 counts because (right or wrong), in the 1st and 4th innings, as announced by the plate umpire (and not protested by the offended team), #1 was a courtesy runner for the pitcher, and did not enter the game.
#1 only entered the game once (in the 7th inning for #9) and therefore may legally score. The run would still count even if #1 was an unreported substitute (not reported to the plate umpire in the 7th inning). See Rule 4-6-C.5-6 |
