Rule Question

[coach D'E]

Here is a question for rule experts about substitutions. It happened at the ASA National Tournament in Sterling VA. A batter comes to the plate that is not in the starting batting order. On the lineup card she is listed as a substitute. The pitcher throws a pitch. The coach of the team on defense complains to the umpire that the team is batting out of order or has made an illegal substitution. After conferring with the lead umpire of the tournament ,it was determined that the batter has to complete the at bat before being officially announced. I thought that a coach has to inform the umpire of any changes in the lineup before the player is allowed in the game. What is the actual ruling? The ASA rule book says that the at- bat has to be completed. Does this mean that if this batter got a hit or was hit by a pitch before she was officially inserted into the batting order that she would be called out?

 

[BretMan]

The ASA rule doesn't exactly say that "the at-bat has to be completed". ASA handles this as an unreported substitution. When a batter is an unreported sub, the penalty depends on if the violation is brought to the umpire's attention before a pitch is thrown, after a pitch is thrown or after the batter completes the at-bat. The only time there is any real penalty is when the batter completes the at-bat and it is protested before the next pitch or play. Then the batter is called out. In all other instances, the batter is simply recorded on the line-up card without penalty.

Here are the rules that apply when the batter is an unreported sub:

- If the unreported sub is protested before the batter receives a pitch, there is no penalty. Until a pitch is thrown, the player is not officially in the game. Simply record the sub on the line-up card and continue play. Additionally, since the sub was not yet officially in the game, the original player could be placed at the plate without penalty.

- If protested after a pitch is thrown, but before the batter completes the at-bat, the sub is now officially in the game. Record the substitution and procede without penalty.

- If protested after the batter completes her at-bat, but BEFORE the next batter receives a pitch, the batter is called out. Any advance by runners on the play is cancelled. Any other outs recorded on the play stand.

- If protested after the batter completes her at-bat, but AFTER the next batter receives a pitch, the batter is NOT out. She is officially in the game, all action up to that point stands and there is no additional penalty.

In the case of your play, since the unreported sub received a pitch she is now officially in the game (and the player she replaced has left the game). The substitution would then be recorded on the official line-up. Since she did not complete her at-bat, she would continue to bat without penalty.

 

[Doug]

So, the only way the defensive coach could get an out is to wait until the 'at bat' is completed, but prior to throwing a pitch to the next batter?

Also, if the offensive coach makes it known before the 'at bat' is completed, he could report the substitution then?

 

[ASAPAump]

So, the only way the defensive coach could get an out is to wait until the 'at bat' is completed, but prior to throwing a pitch to the next batter?

Also, if the offensive coach makes it known before the 'at bat' is completed, he could report the substitution then?

Correct. I think the OP's interpretation of the situation was slightly skewed. Without any information beyond what the OP stated, I think what happened was the coach THOUGHT it was batting out of order or an illegal sub (which, it was neither; it was an unreported sub), and the correct penalty was applied (see Bretman's post). The OP stated that the UIC said "that the batter has to complete the at bat before being officially announced," which is not true. I bet the UIC said that the batter had to complete the at bat in order to be called out (which is what Bretman has already stated here).