Ump says DP can't play defense?

gdc03120 · May 18, 2016

softgabby said:
I was reading this thread and don't understand what you guys mean by DP/Flex. I don't think our team uses it so I don't understand if it's a substitute or what the term means or how it works. Then again, we could and I don't realize it.

DP - "Designated Player" - Think similar to the DH in baseball - plays offense, sits out on defense - can be listed anywhere on the batting lineup
Flex - plays defense for the DP, sits out on offense - listed at the bottom of the batting lineup.

They are kind of the "2 for 1" in softball: Two bodies acting as 1. The Flex can only bat for the DP (as a substitution), but the DP can play defense for any player EXCEPT for the Flex (as a defensive position swap). Someone correct me if I've forgotten anything.

softgabby · May 18, 2016

gdc03120 said:
DP - "Designated Player" - Think similar to the DH in baseball - plays offense, sits out on defense - can be listed anywhere on the batting lineup
Flex - plays defense for the DP, sits out on offense - listed at the bottom of the batting lineup.

They are kind of the "2 for 1" in softball: Two bodies acting as 1. The Flex can only bat for the DP (as a substitution), but the DP can play defense for any player EXCEPT for the Flex (as a defensive position swap). Someone correct me if I've forgotten anything.

Thank you for the explanation. I never thought of it that way.

gdc03120 · May 19, 2016

It works well if you have a girl with a hot bat but a bad glove at that time (she's the DP) and a girl with a great glove who's working on her hitting (She's the Flex). A lot of times in college it's used where the DP bats for the pitcher (as the flex) to avoid having the pitcher hit and get hurt.

Ajaywill · May 19, 2016

This is absolutely protestable. This is a misinterpretation of the DP/FLEX rule.

Of course, this assumes that your state HS association allows protests. Some don't.
My suggestion would be that you first try to involve the PU's partner.....s/he may be more familiar with the rule and be able to convince him that what you are trying to do is legal.
If that doesn't work. play the remainder of the game under protest, if allowed by your state.

At minimum, I would highly recommend that you contact your state association and inform them of this situation. Hopefully, somebody will speak to this umpire and set him straight.

canyonjoe · May 19, 2016

It would be nice if once in awhile the other coach could step in on something like this and say, "he is right" and let the game
go on. I know everyone is trying to win and I would never say, "I thought my runner was out", but if there is a rule that's called
wrong it just seems wrong. We all claim we and teach sportsmanship and especially at younger levels it would teach the kids a
good lesson.

Ken Krause · May 19, 2016

Comp said:
This is not correct. The DP can play defense for any player but the Flex and it is not a substitution. Whoever the DP may be playing for has not left the game, they are simply not out playing defense. They are still in the batting order and continue to bat just as they did before the DP played defense for them.

As for the umpire in the OP, I would call your state high school athletic association and discuss the situation with them. Someone needs to set the umpire straight because the DP/Flex is used quite often.

In the original post, he said the right fielder became ill, which is why he wanted to put in the flex. I presumed that meant she was no longer able to play at all. If that is the case, then someone else would have to bat in that spot or they would take the out. If she could still bat then yes, you are correct she could do that.

canyonjoe · May 19, 2016

On DP/Flex rule, Am I correct that we can put the Flex in to run for the DP they re enter the DP so she can bat next time. I realize you can only do it one time?

hssoftball101 · May 19, 2016

This is why teams don't use DP/FLEX. If by reading the rulebook it's still difficult to grasp, then it's just too complicated. They should just get rid of DP/FLEX and make a DH-type rule for both offense and defense to allow two extra players. DH and DF. DH hits for anyone. DF fields for anyone except pitcher.

parrot · May 19, 2016

canyonjoe said:
It would be nice if once in awhile the other coach could step in on something like this and say, "he is right" and let the game
go on. I know everyone is trying to win and I would never say, "I thought my runner was out", but if there is a rule that's called
wrong it just seems wrong. We all claim we and teach sportsmanship and especially at younger levels it would teach the kids a
good lesson.

It's funny you say that. While I was waiting to talk to the ump the second time, their head coach walked by on his way to the coaching box; I asked him "Am I right or am I wrong?" He said "You're right." and kept walking.

parrot · May 19, 2016

Ajaywill said:
This is absolutely protestable. This is a misinterpretation of the DP/FLEX rule.

Of course, this assumes that your state HS association allows protests. Some don't.
My suggestion would be that you first try to involve the PU's partner.....s/he may be more familiar with the rule and be able to convince him that what you are trying to do is legal.
If that doesn't work. play the remainder of the game under protest, if allowed by your state.

At minimum, I would highly recommend that you contact your state association and inform them of this situation. Hopefully, somebody will speak to this umpire and set him straight.

I don't know if my state allows protests or not I guess. The thought of protest didn't even occur to me until after the game, and in fairness, what transpired had little to do with the outcome of the game in which we were soundly defeated. I think I may contact the state association though. This definitely needs to be remedied.

Ump says DP can't play defense?

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