hat is a runner? Knowing the correct status of an offensive player at any point in the game can be central to an umpire effectively administering the rules, so let's start there.

A batter

"A Batter is an offensive player who takes his position in the batter's box." [OBR 2.00]

Seems quite straightforward, doesn't it? An offensive player steps into the batter's box, and he automatically becomes a batter? YES? Consider this: The correct batting order is Able, Baker, Charles .. etc. Top of the 1st. Able singles. CHARLES enters the batter's box... Is Charles a batter? YES, he is. Is he the ONLY batter? NOPE! Charles is an "improper batter." Baker, who has ventured nowhere near the batter's box, is the "proper batter." We therefore have TWO "batters" (one proper - one improper), one of whom has never entered the batter's box! Charles is NOT a LEGAL batter, but he has satisfied the definition in OBR 2.00, while Baker IS the LEGAL batter, but he has not met that definition in its key element!

Continued...