| Baseball coaches must be alert for one way that | | | | "speed-up" runner is that they run for a pitcher or |
| opposing offensive teams may illegally use the | | | | catcher that they say is going out on defense, |
| Courtesy Runner or Speed-Up rule. | | | | for the first time, in the next half of the inning. |
| How does a team illegally use a courtesy runner? | | | | They put a substitute in the catcher's batting slot. |
| Here is the procedure outlined: | | | | They tell the umpire that he is catching or pitching. |
| Coaches should always be alert for the opposition | | | | The player bats and gets a hit. The coach then |
| misusing the this base runner rule. There are a | | | | uses a "speed-up" runner for the sub who he |
| couple of ways that coaches do this. | | | | says is now his catcher or pitcher. The runner |
| The first way that they cheat using the | | | | comes in the game and runs. However, the sub is |
| "speed-up" runner rule is that they will use a | | | | pulled and the starting catcher is put back in the |
| designated hitter for their catcher and if the | | | | game when the defense takes the field. |
| opposition does not catch it, they will use a | | | | These are rule violations. You must always be |
| courtesy runner to run for the designated hitter | | | | alert and watch for such violations by your |
| who is actually hitting for the catcher. | | | | opposition. Don't think that such trickery will not |
| Sounds crazy doesn't it? Well it has been done | | | | happen to you. If you do not have a good score |
| many, many times by coaches that pull this on | | | | bookkeeper to help you be alert, you may not |
| unsuspecting coaches and inexperienced umpires. | | | | catch it. |
| Another way that coaches will misuse the | | | | |