The "half" game rule ,,,,

Regular Season: As a mercy rule is used and other factors affect the length of a game, a starter may be replaced after three(3) complete innings, but not before. Half game players must be inserted no later than the beginning of the fifth inning. A player may be substituted at any time due to illness or injury. No half game player will play more than four(4) complete innings in an eight(8) inning game, unless he replaced an ill or injured player. A starter removed without completing four(4) complete innings due to illness or injury may reenter the game but not before his replacement has played four(4) complete innings. As we cannot guarantee the length of a regular season game the second half players will not be guaranteed neither three(3) nor four(4) complete innings. The manager should make every effort to balance first and second half starts.

Not bad but it does limit the creativity of managers and teams to have more players play more time.  Let us consider if a team has eleven guys for any given game.  What if after two innings two starters are subbed for.  After two more innings the starters return and play the remaining
(potentially) six.  Two more starters sit for two and the original subs move over to their batting spots.  Then after two more innings the second set of starters return and two more starters sit the last two moving the two subs into their spots.  Eight guys play six innings instead of four playings four each.  Works even better if only one sub.  CAN'T do this under this rule.  More often than not we have one or two subs only. Think this rule as written is limiting.

Bob,  that's a good point.  Which is why this was introduced:

Any obvious manipulation or abuse of this rule may result in a default and/or suspension of the manager/player. A protest may be lodged and the executive committee will determine what penalty will result.

Cheers,

Not real sure of your point Chris but I was trying to get more game time opportunity for the one or two sub situtations not figure out ways to take advantage of the rules.  As written the rule limits sub and or the starter to four innings.  With some creative substitutions each of those players could get in six innings.  Perhaps we could add a requirement of at least one at bat per three innings played to minimize potential abuse or just maybe goodwill and sportsmanship might work. Certainly the exec would address obvious abuse the rules.

 Sorry, then I missed your point.  I thought you were pointing out a way to manipulate the rule for guys not to play.  The unforuntate part of your strategy, is it requires more effort to micro manage the lineup than it's worth.  If we had an official scorer for each game, then it may be easier to handle.

 Cheers,

That's right, I don't remember how we came to that exact language, but the whole point of putting a inning in there, was to limit funny business, so if you draw the line, you know who's crossing it.

You could do it as written and get that player 1 more inning, which is bring in after 3rd