Could use input from someone very rule-savvy…
Game situation:
- Bottom of the 7th and my visitor team is up by 3 runs.
- Home team has bases loaded with 2 outs.
- Curtesy runner comes in for runner at 1st base. Our scorekeeper
recognizes that after the next 2 batters the curtesy runner
will be up to bat.
- Our manager tells our pitcher to walk the next 2 batters, which
would make it a one-run game and the curtesy runner would be on
3rd base when it’s his turn to bat. Theoretically he would
then be called out and the game would end with my team up by
one run.
- Our pitcher puts the next batter on intentionally, which moves
the curtesy runner to 2nd base.
- When our pitcher motions to the umpire that he’s walking the
next batter, the curtesy runner on 2nd base sprints toward 3rd
base and halfway there falls down and grabs his hamstring.
- The umpire allowed the home team to replace the curtesy runner
with another curtesy runner, due to his “injury”.

What we thought was a great catch by our scorekeeper turned out to bite us. In the case of a true injury to a curtesy runner, I recognize another curtesy runner can run for him. Here’s my question: For the actual game situation I spelled out is it up to the umpire’s discretion to determine if the injury was feigned or real, or does that situation always allow the curtesy runner to be replaced.

TOTF ... I'm reasonably confident that everyone in the park that day, and all of the readers of this post, know it was about a 97% probability of being a fake injury ... Here's where it fails, assuming the umpire(s) and Director are as versed in Courtesy Runners as they should be ... Rulebook §8.5(3) • COURTESY RUNNER REPLACEMENT is the game they were playing on you ... But the operative correct section is the very next one: §8.5(4) • COURTESY RUNNER COMING TO BAT WHILE ON BASE ...

When R2 is on second, the moment the pitcher intentionally walks the batter, R2 is awarded third during a dead ball situation ... Whether or not it's in fact a legitimate "injury" is irrelevant; he's awarded third ... If they want to go that way, the umpire or Director should say, "You may substitute for the baserunner, but it's a bit late since he is deemed to be on third when it was his turn to bat, and accordingly he is declared OUT under §8.5(4), ending the game." ...

I suspect this was destined to have exactly a 50% approval rating no matter which way it goes, and some may even argue about it here ... But I would steer this to the decision that is not trying to make a mockery of the game by a potentially (and highly likely) phantom injury during a dead ball situation ...

By the way, a LONG time ago (2011) at the World Championships in Phoenix, I watched a team win the title in the championship game with exactly this in-game situation ... They walked two batters while leading by three with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 7th ...

Thanks Dave, your comments make complete sense, especially the pieces about "the runner is already deemed to be on third" and, "trying to avoid making a mockery of the game". I appreciate your knowledge of the rules, and that you always look at things from the perspective of what's fair and practical.

Really interesting that a team won Phoenix some time ago under those circumstances. In our game we were all impressed that our scorekeeper caught the issue, but she felt horrible when it backfired, even though it absolutely wasn't her fault.

In the PHX situation, there was no "shenanigans" involved, just a pretty astute and paying-attention team that saw it unfolding and knew their rulebook ... And a Runner-up manager that felt terrible about it ...