Re-entry rule

Question
Here's the basic story:
A screaming line drive is hit back to the pitcher, Danny.
He bobbles it, but gets the guy out at first.

He came back to the dugout (it being the third out) and claims his finger is broken. It looked broken. It was in the shape of a 'W.' I could not look at it!

He was supposed to hit third during our half of the inning.

Danny, being all tough, snaps is finger into place, and is ready to go.

Now...the coach went to the scorer's table and put Eric put in to hit in Danny's place, before Danny got himself ready to go.

Eric steps up to the plate, does NOT take a picth, and then the coach (Richie) goes to the Ump and tells him that Danny is ready to go and will hit. Danny was all loud and yelling, "I'm ready baby! It'll take more than that to keep me out!"

Eric returns to the dugout and Danny hits a double, driving in two runs.

Then, the scorer's hop up saying, "WHOA!" He was taken out. The umps, scorers and Richie the coach have a little pow-wow.

Danny is out due to hitting out of order, the runners go back to second and third. The scorers were claiming that they weren't notified about Danny coming back.(The other team didn't care if Danny hit or not. They are of the 'lets just play and have fun' mindset.)

Then...THEN...The scorers let Danny pitch again in the next inning!

I can understand that after a pinch-hitter is announced, that the originial hitter can't go back in...but...to let him pitch again?!

Can you please shed any light on some rules I might not know and/or explain if anything was amiss in last night's game?  Should it have been the umpire's responability to inform the scorer's of the change?


Answer
Hi Christopher,

I'll bet this is SP

sound like Danny is one tough dude, maybe a little too much.

A player is is in the lineup when they are reported to the PU.  It is up to the PU to report it to the scorer.  As long as "tough D" was a legal re-entry (reported to the PU) there is no problem

So what I have from your question is tough D is the starter, Eric subs for tough D(as Eric is reported to the PU) as tough D reduces his own fracture-dislocation, then tough D after doing minor surgery on himself re-enters as reported to the PU.  All this is legal.

"I can understand that after a pinch-hitter is announced, that the originial hitter can't go back in.." this would not be correct as even though Eric is subbing for tough D, he can be taken out of the game and tough D re-entered (or any other legal sub)w/out a pitch being thrown.

"Danny is out due to hitting out of order, the runners go back to second and third. The scorers were claiming that they weren't notified about Danny coming back."  this is also incorrect if tough D was reported to the PU.  Tough D's team could protest this.  Plus in no case is it hitting out of order, it would be an unreported sub if tD had not be in the game.  PLUS it is up to the defense to appeal not the scorer.  Lots of problems here.

tough D should probably see an orthopod to make sure his fracture-dislocation is set properly and then maybe some counseling (just guessing on that one)

Mark