We need to remember why we have this rule in the first place - it's for people like me -just ask Craft about the best two minutes in sports history - who can't run a damn anymore and Dougie Z who because of injury, is a few steps behind me. And then there are the guys who have temporary injuries that if they do run, will aggrevate or make worse a current injury. Without this rule we wouldn't be able to bat at all since most people can pass us on the way to second. The part of the rule that makes this fair is that it's the last batted out that is the courtesy runner. One of the reasons we have open ended batting orders is to get as many people involved in the game as possible. How many people out there would be willing to pay their registration fee and only get up in less than half the games? Rosters would then become small since playing time will almost be guaranteed to be reduced. So you see, the rule has a definite advantage for every team and the players...
Relax obi wan. I was simply making a joke. What would the next rule be? No going from first to third? This is a friendly forum and I personally enjoy and usually easily identify all of the parties with whom I correspond. Most of them I have shared the field of play with once or twice.
Maybe I am misunderstanding what Dennis is saying.Its not trying to take a bat out of anybodies hand or diminish anybodies playing time.Its just saying if said batter gets a hit and needs a courtesy runner and (god knows we all need one at times) that runner should not be allowed to steal a base.I think Gino's point is that is a unfair advantage as the original batter wouldnt be stealing.Just a thought.
You're making an assumption that the coutesy runner is capable of stealing. Now if Skip is the last batted out, then I can see the issue, but at least on the 47's the chances of the coutesy runner always being able to steal isn't always the case. Am I missing something - has this become a problem in the other divisions? Am I hearing that perhaps you want to limit a coutesy runner only for batters with injuries? If so, that can be difficult if not impossible to monitor...
The only change that is being suggested is that who ever goes in as a courtesy runner cannot steal.Has nothing to do with injuries.This is only a suggestion.
With a courtesy runner it has to be the person who makes the last out to be able to come in and run for the person. If there is no outs in the inning then revert back to previous inning. This makes it fair! This way your not putting in your best baserunner or your fastest player.
If by chance the runner is fast enough he should steal if he wants. Its a rule. If you want to get rid of the rule just post it and see if people agree? Or at least make an amendment to it.
Ed, I understand what you're saying - since the person receiving the courtesy runner is probably unable to steal, why should his replacement. It's a valid issue - but my opinion is that it's too restrictive and not always the case so why make it a rule.
My opinion is that if a person declares before the game starts that he will need a courtesy runner no matter what the situation is, then the runner should be allowed to steal. If the batter/runner comes up with a mysterious injury in the 7th inning of a tied game and requires a courtesy runner at that point then the runner should not be allowed to steal unless that runner is an official replacement off of the bench.
That's no problem Herb, because courtesy runner have to be named before the start of the game. A substitute runner for someone injured late in the game is called a pinch runner.
Okay, I guess I started something. But it was not meant to be too complicated.
My recommendation is that if you make it a rule, it is consistent and no advantages are created. I did NOT say that a runner could not go first to third, my point is that a courtesy runner should NOT steal, because the person he is replacing wouldn't be stealing because of injury, disablity, age or position played (pitcher/catcher scenario). (please note that I am trying to be politically sensitive).
I believe that more often than not many times it created an advantage when the game was on the line. A courtesy should be just that and the team that receives the courtesy should NOT take the advantage of "stealing" when the accomodating team is "accomodating" them.
So, that is the point I was trying to make. I apologize if some people think it got out of hand, but I do commend those who showed their concerns and constructive criticism in the sportsman-like manner that is becoming of the CDMSBL mantra.
Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Men, even Batman dammit...
Gino - I don't think the discussion got out of hand... if anything, the bulletin board provides a good forum for this type of discussion and provdies to the Executive Board a sense of how the members feel... There should be more of this type of discussion.... Happy Holiday season to all - and a healthy new year...
