Substitution on Overturned HR

[yawetag]

This happened a few years ago, and I'm sure it was discussed. However, I think it would be a good discussion today.

Batter hits fly ball to deep outfield. Initially, umpires rule in-play and runner gets a single. A pinch runner is brought in and the umpires then decide to review the play (obviously before another pitch is thrown, but after the pinch runner replaces the batter). The review overturns the in-play and changes to a HR.

The OC then asks for the original batter to be placed back in the lineup, claiming he wouldn't have put in the pinch runner had it been a home run originally.

As an umpire, what do you do?

[Guest]

To me, this depends on the level of baseball.

At the younger levels, common sense and fair play:

Why is the offence pinch running? Because the hit was ruled a single.

Why was the hit ruled a single? Because the umpire(s) screwed up.

Undo the substitution due to the mistake.

Once you get into advanced levels of baseball, knowledge of the rules is (foolishly, lol) assumed and required. If there was a doubt regarding the ruling on the field, the offence should have questioned the call, waited for the result in the event of a conference, and then made their decision whether or not to pinch run.

[Mr Umpire]

To me, this depends on the level of baseball.

At the younger levels, common sense and fair play:

Why is the offence pinch running? Because the hit was ruled a single.

Why was the hit ruled a single? Because the umpire(s) screwed up.

Undo the substitution due to the mistake.

Once you get into advanced levels of baseball, knowledge of the rules is (foolishly, lol) assumed and required. If there was a doubt regarding the ruling on the field, the offence should have questioned the call, waited for the result in the event of a conference, and then made their decision whether or not to pinch run.

I agree.

[mstaylor]

I agree with 24. At the professional level the manager has to be smart enough to question the call before he subs the runner. Once he subs him in, there is no reentry, so tough munchies. The other place where this could happen is in LLWS. If he put in a SPR then let him swap back. If he actually subbed him in the unless he has previously met MPR then he is stuck. But even at the LL level he has to be responsible for his decision to make the sub before asking for the review.

[Rich Ives]

The OC accepted the original call. He wasn't ranting and screaming, he was putting in a sub. Why review it at all?

So if you do review it, turn the clock back because it's all on you.

[mstaylor]

I think we are assuming the call was questioned by the OM otherwise why would they look?

[Rich Ives]

I think we are assuming the call was questioned by the OM otherwise why would they look?

Why would he just calmly put in a sub instrad of going nuts over losing a HR?

No way.

Nohow.

Methinks thou does't assume incorrectly.

And I'd bet it never happened in the first place.