Rule 28 makes the umpire the sole judge as to the nature and extent of the "illness or injury" claimed to disable a player from service on the field. The captains have nothing to say in the matter. All they can do is to appeal to the umpire, and abide by his decision.
GAMES STOPPED BY RAIN.
Rule 55 the umpire is prohibited from suspending play in a match game on account of rain, unless "rain falls so heavily that the spectators are compelled by the severity of the storm, to seek shelter." If the rain is light, or an ordinary drizzle, it is not sufficient to legalize the suspension of the play.
THE CAPTAIN ONLY CAN ADDRESS THE UMPIRE.
Rules 53 and 57 are explicit in prohibiting any player, except the captain of the nine, from addressing the umpire in regard to any decision he may make; and even the captain can only do so in the case of a question involving an error in misinterpreting the rules. If the decision disputed involves only an error of judgment, even the captain has no right to question the decision. In every case of a violation of this rule, the umpire must fine the offender five dollars, or he himself be liable to immediate dismissal for violating the rules.
BATSMEN CHANGING POSITION.
Last season a custom came into vogue which virtually violated Section V of Rule 43. It was the habit some batsmen had of jumping from one batting position to the other just as the pitcher was about to deliver the ball to the bat, this act virtually hindering the catcher from properly fielding the pitched ball. While no rule should prevent a batsman from batting from either the left or the right batting position at his option it certainly was never intended to allow the change to be made while play was in progress: and it therefore becomes the duty of the umpire to interpret this rule according to its spirit, and to regard the action of a batsman in jumping from one position to the other while the ball is in play from pitcher to catcher as hindering the catcher, and in such case he should declare him out.
INTERFERING WITH A BATTED OR THROWN BALL.
Rule 48 prohibits a base runner from interfering with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. The runner has no right to the line of the base when a fielder is occupying it in the effort to catch a fly ball, or to field a batted ball; nor can a base runner make any attempt to hinder or obstruct a fielder from fielding a thrown ball without his being promptly decided out. In all cases the base runner must run off the line of the bases to avoid interfering with a fielder standing on the line of the bases to field a batted ball. Section VIII of Rule 28 says, "Or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball," and the intention is judged by his effort to avoid interference or not.