illeagle substitution

Question
QUESTION: The situation was when an outfielder was substituted for with one of the bench players. Later in the game she re-enter to relieve the pitcher. Instead of re-entering for the bench player that replaced her, she replaced the pitcher in a different batting position. It was not caught and the game ended before the pitchers batting spot came up or the outfielders batting spot came up. How should the batting order have worked out and  what is the penalty for having a player re-enter the game in the wrong batting position.

ANSWER: Hi Jeff,

Thank you for your question.  Let's give names to the positions, just to have a little fun with your case play.  Art the Outfielder was substituted for by Ike the Bench Player.  So far, so good.  Later, Art re-enters for Barry the Pitcher.  The plate umpire shouldn't have allowed that.  Now, a problem has developed.  Art should have re-entered for Ike, and Ike should have left the game.  If the defensive coach brought Art back in because he wanted Art to pitch, he still could have accomplished that by re-entering Art into Ike's spot.  Even after Ike left the game, Art could have pitched, just by moving players around defensively, which doesn't even require notification of the plate umpire.

Now let's answer your two questions:
1) How should the batting order have worked out?  We've already touched upon that.  Simply, Art and Ike should have shared the same spot in the batting order for the entire game.  Art should have never been allowed to occupy Barry's spot in the batting order.

2) What is the penalty for having a player re-enter the game in the wrong batting position?  Jeff, you hit the nail on the head when you titled the subject of your question Illegal Substitution, not Batting Out Of Order, or Unreported Substitute, which are entirely different glitches altogether.  The penalty for a player returning to the game and batting not in their original position in the order is disqualification.

One of my umpire training manuals states, point blank, that lineup card problems "...are some of the most time consuming and frustrating issues umpires have to contend with."  I take care of my lineup cards like a mother hen.  However, it takes the cooperation, alertness, and rules knowledge of my game's players, coaches, and both scorekeepers to ensure smooth sailing!

Scott Kelly

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your answer Scott.  I am finding that as my daughter gets involved in higher levels of softball, that line-up cards and substitutions are significantly more complicated and must be thought through with more care and detail.  

To follow-up on my last question, had the illegal substitution been realized, would the result have been Art being disqualified, Re-enter Ike (or some other eligible player) to the pitchers batting spot to bat, and Ike remains in the original position that he had entered into for Art?

I would assume that neither Art or Ike could pitch the next inning.  Would the batters that Art faced as an illegal substitute stand?

again, thanks for your input.

Answer
Hi Jeff,

You're very welcome for the first answer.  I apologize that you had to submit a followup question.  I was careful to answer your two specific questions, but I wish that I would have expounded my answers and maybe I would have touched upon the information you needed.  Sometimes, though, the more unsolicited information I offer, the bigger the bite marks to my rear end, lol!  Again, I apologize that you had to submit a followup question.

1) Yes, if the illegal substitution had been realized, then the result would have been the disqualification of Art.

2) No, you can't re-enter Ike to the pitcher's batting position to bat.  For starters, Ike is currently in the game for Art in the outfield.  Ike never left the game.  Remember, Art came in illegally for Barry the Pitcher, not for Ike the Bench Player like he should have.  Reminder: Ike, and every other player, can never change their current batting position.

3) Yes, you can enter any legal/eligible player into the pitcher's batting position after the disqualification of Art, including Barry, who has a re-entry privilege...Barry didn't get into any hot water when Art came in for him!

4) You correctly assumed that Art cannot pitch the next inning, as Art has been disqualified, but Ike can.  Ike can play any defensive position, as long as he maintains his same position in the batting order.  He could pitch as the result of a multiple-player defensive shuffle, or it could be as simple as he comes in from the outfield, and whoever replaced illegal Art at pitcher plays for Ike in the outfield.

5) Your last question, "would the batters that Art faced as an illegal substitute stand?," is a little bit complicated.  The broad answer is yes, everything does stand.  However, and here comes the complicated part, on the last batter Art faced, if Art makes a play and the offense discovers then that Art is illegal before the next pitch (legal or illegal), or before the defense has left the field, or before the umpires have left the field of play, then the offense has the option to take the result of the play, or have the same/last batter return to bat and assume the previous count.  If the batter does return to bat all other runners are returned and outs made are nullified.

6) I guess this is a good time to offer some unsolicited information.  The defense could have nailed illegal Art while he was batting or running, too, not just while he was pitching.

Jeff, I hope your followup questions have been adequately addressed!  If not, please do submit another followup question.

Scott Kelly