Editor's Note : As the '97 season started up there was a flurry of e-mail concerning one specific point in the classic baseball appeal process. The variations on the theme were all the same: in the middle of a live ball appeal a runner on base takes off and a play ensues on the runner. What is the status of the appeal?

I ran into this situation last summer in a very important game. Rather than take my word for it I advanced the question to the NASO Hotline. Here is my e-mail trail ...

Losing Your Appeal?

submitted by Brent McLaren
with NASO response
by Scott Ehret

As a member of NASO I exercised my privilege to get advice from their "Rules Hotline." I felt confident that what I had done in a game last summer was the correct application of the rules but over the winter so many readers had raised questions that I had to go up the ladder so to speak.

Here is my original query ...

Hotline Topic on Appeals

I need your direction on this one .... It has probably been covered before .... Pro Rules, Baseball

R2, R3 with one out. R2 missed first base, both umpires saw it, not even close! The pitcher has a live ball and waves his finger at me saying "We are going to appeal." He jogs backwards to R2 and tags him.

R3 breaks for home. The pitcher throws home but R3 beats the tag.

Now the crux of the problem ....

I ruled that since I cannot confuse an appeal with anything other than an appeal, and since it was clear that a proper appeal was underway on R2, and that they had tagged the runner, we are obliged to hear the conclusion of the verbal portion and give a ruling on R2. R2 is out, score the run.

Was I correct on this? My question is probably better worded ... "at what point in the appeal process is the umpire required to give a decision?"

Thanks .... Brent




From: "Scott Ehret, Editor"
Organization: Referee magazine
To: Brent McLaren
Subject: Re: Appeal play ....

Brent,

Don't get hung up on the idea that a defensive player has to say something to the umpire to accomplish an appeal. All the defense must do is demonstrate to the umpire's satisfaction that the defense knows there has been a base running infraction, then the defense must tag the guilty runner or the base where the infraction took place with a live ball.

In your play, as soon as the pitcher tags R2, R2 is out. Whatever happens after that happens.

Pro 7.10 is the rule reference.

Scott


.... submitted April 24, 1997

Comments:

  1. Since the appeal was obvious there was no need to hear a verbal portion to the appeal.
  2. Had the appeal not been obvious then the tag of the runner or bag determines the time of the out and not the declaration from the fielder.
  3. If it would have been the third out the run would not have scored.
  4. In this case play had completely stopped. In one case, again last summer, R3 rounded the base and was threatening for home while F4 was thinking about an appeal on R2. A snap throw retired R3 and R2 was called out on the appeal. The action in this case was continuous.
  5. In a "fourth out" situation the defense may elect to take the out that will give them the advantage.

Continuous Play: We have all been faced with the situation where everything comes to a stop but the runners are off base. If an appeal could take place and this pause occurs how would you know whether or not a subsequent play on a runner would be continuous or grounds for not allowing the appeal on the "before the next pitch or any play or attempted play" interpretation. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, "If time was requested would I grant it?" If your answer is 'no' then the play was continuous, if 'yes' then you have a play or attempted play.

My Strangest Non-Appeal - A True Story!

It is the bottom of the final inning in a national championship game, bases loaded, home team down by two runs. One out. The batter hits a good one deep into right field then totally misses first base. R2 and R3 score but R1 is thrown out at the plate on a clean play. The batter is then thrown out at third base. The entire umpire crew stood there waiting for the appeal while the defense, both pitcher and first basemen, knew the runner had clearly skirted the bag and made it known out loud to the coach; neither had the ball or the bag. Would you have allowed the appeal at first base? And having upheld that appeal how many runs would you have scored? Now explain it to the coaches ....

The defense left the field, extra innings. They never appealed ... tie game ... it went 11 innings! :-(

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