Runner for the Catcher rule and etiquette

[44]

I'm sure we all know the substitute Runner for the Catcher rule as Coaches.
Mandatory with 2 out and optional with less than 2 out. Good rule of course.

But is there a rule or un-written laws of baseball etiquette on who you sub as the new runner ?

Do you sub the fastest player on your bench or the last player out?

[JRA Qld2]

If you have a bench you stick him on, otherwise I was told it was last out or last scored

[kozzy]

I say anyone you want as long as it wont interrupt the flow of the game anymore then calling time to switch the runners

[Senior Player]

I agree with JRA however it used to be written in the rules but I cannot find it anywhere. Has the speed up rule been deleted from the GBL rules??

[44]

Feb 27, 2010 23:39:05 GMT 10 Senior Player said:

I agree with JRA however it used to be written in the rules but I cannot find it anywhere. Has the speed up rule been deleted from the GBL rules??

I can only find the rule referring to Junior games.

PITCHING AND CATCHING
A. No junior player (including U20 comp and U18 players in senior baseball) may pitch and catch in the same day.
B. No junior player (including U20 comp and U18 players in senior baseball) may catch in more than two games in any
given day.
C. In junior games (including U20) a courtesy runner for the catcher is MANDATORY after two outs.


In Junior tournaments NO runner for catcher is allowed. Bench player must be suited up ready to go at all times to save time.

[44]

Feb 27, 2010 21:11:05 GMT 10 JRA Qld2 said:

If you have a bench you stick him on, otherwise I was told it was last out or last scored

I think JRA may be correct. Not written but etiquette I have heard. Sub Last out or just scored seems right to me.

I remember last season in U14 when our Catcher got on with 2 out. The kid was by far fastest runner in the team if not Region and 1 of the quickest in the State.

Coach hooked him off to sub the teams slowest runner who just happened to be next in line to sub as runner.. funny as to watch the "knowing parents" were up in arms and horrified..

Coach knew the rule and did the right thing without blink of an eyelash.

[QBUA]

Hope you don't mind me joining in on this one.

There is not hard written rule about runners for the catcher in seniors.
It is more of a convention, however, some managers will try and get what they want if they can, most go with the norm, that is, a player on the bench first, then the last out.

There is no requirement for a runner to the catcher, (seniors), it is just a way of speeding up the game, if someone on the bench could not be bothered warming up the pitcher.
1. In seniors, someone who is not the catcher, only has to wear a face mask to warm up the pitcher, since there is no batter, there is no requirement for a helmet.

Juniors: My thoughts

2a. If there is an available player in the dugout, (not in the game at present) and (not an ejected person, player left the game due to injury or illness), they are the R/C. Manager may put up an argument if it is the next releif pitcher in this case, he is in the dugout not being used. (Don't pick them if their in the ballpen) Maybe a little different in Juniors, I would like to hear junior manager thoughts about using a relief pitcher in this situation, are they that protected from running.

2b. If a junior has been substituted, use them if all players have been substituted because of the 1/2 game participation Rule.

3. If only nine in the dugout, the last out will be the runner for the catcher, unless, circumstances make this not possible.

4. Have the catcher run for himself, as mentioned in (1), have someone else warm up the pitch, it's not that critical if the catcher is not there for all warm up pitchers.
If the catcher is not there to warm up the pitcher, and the pitcher does not go over their 8 warm up throws, we give the catcher maybe 2 warm up throws.

5. Safety Responsibility: If the pitcher elects to warm up with an infielder in their fielding position, the pitcher must not be on the dirt of the mound.

6. If all else fails, and the managers want to argue about who is the runner, the UMPIRE CHOICES. Go with the catcher running for himself.

IMPORTANT: Time Wasting:1. When time is called for the R/C, for some reason, the catcher stays on the base until the runner gets to the base, NOT NEEDED, the ball is dead, they can run past each other to and from the dugout.

2. The team should already know who is the runner, sometimes they take to long to choice who is going to run.

3. If the change of inning has happened, and the catcher is to busy talking instead of getting his proctective gear on, warn them, hustle them on. Depending on the actions of the catchers attempt to get to the plate, determines how many warm up throws the pitchers gets. The whole idea is to have the catcher at the plate as fast as possible for the pitchers warm up, not for them to socialize.

4. If the catcher takes to long, and the game is stopped, and everyone else is ready to play, you can use a big stick on them.
(DO NOT USE THE BIG STICK UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY) Warnings.

[bronco]

Good to see you kept it short and simple!

[QBUA]

Sorry to bore you bronco. I could have just given the (last out) posting. Maybe others had some questions or issues along the same lines or in seniors, my posting just gives them possibilities for most of the situations that pop up occassionally. If I have answered 3 or 4 possible questions with the one posting, I'm happy too.

[bobbybillabong]

A good point to remember is that a runner for the catcher is an option, not a right, and its sole purpose is to speed up the game which, as QBUA points out, can happen in other ways.

An interesting thing is that the official rule (ie Official Australian Baseball Rules) is that 'courtesy runners' are not allowed. Only local rule allowing it that I know of is for juniors, in which it is mandatory with two out.

Something else to think of is that some catchers want to run and are disappointed if denied that chance.

Hard to justify having a runner for the catcher with less than two out - it doesn't take that long to put on leggings and chest protector.

Bench player and last out are two courteous options that avoid any criticism of putting in a fast runner for a slow catcher.