Appeals

quote:

Originally posted by hatman:
A number of recent posts seem to be about appeals.

My question is: What are the proper "mechanics" of an appeal? I have looked in the rule book I have, and there is no reference as to HOW an appeal is made.

The procedures for a proper appeal are in all the rulebooks. Look under "the runner" (OBR) or "baserunning" (FED & NCAA).

quote:

Let's use a simple example: R1, no outs. Fly ball caught by CF. R1, clearly leaving early, advances to 2nd.

As ball is still live, if the CF throws to first, is the runner out?

Yes.

quote:

"Back in the day", there was a protocol of announcing to the umpire that you were appealing that the runner left early. Then the ball was thrown to 1st, while the ball was live.

Is there a "protocol" to making an appeal? If so, what is it? Does a player have to inform the umpire that he is making an appeal to a specific base?

Yes he does, unless the appeal is obvious (as it would be in the example you gave above).

Only FED allows a dead ball appeal. This can be verbal or physical (touching the runner or the base).

Everywhere else, the appeal must be made when the ball is live. If it has become dead, the pitcher must be on the rubber with the ball, and the umpire must make the ball live before a proper appeal can be made. Contrary to popular belief, the pitcher need not step off the rubber to throw to a base for an appeal.

He may not step off but F1 runs different risks when he throws off the rubber on appeal and when he throws from the rubber on appeal.

quote:

Let's use a simple example: R1, no outs. Fly ball caught by CF. R1, clearly leaving early, advances to 2nd.

Clearly to whom? As an umpire I assume the runner knows or feels he left legally, or that the D wouldn't catch him. Only allow the appeal if it's done correctly. Tag the bag or tag the runner and ask for the appeal. Except FED, you just ask right?

OP, would not be an obvious appeal IMO.
F3 stating "he left early" and stepping on the bag, would be.

An obvious appeal is a line drive to F6 with R2 scarmbling back from his secondary lead. Or R1 nearing 2B as the ball is caught on a great diving play by F9 and attempts to return before the throw to 1ST.

Consider same play: ball from F9 to cut-off F4, carooms off F4 and rolls towards 1B, where F3 picks up the ball touches his base and tosses the ball to F1, not an appeal IMO.

Yes, in FED you just have to ask. If I hear the word "appeal," at the end of playing action I will kill the ball and ask the coach what he wants to appeal. Half of them (actually, it's probably more than that) don't know you can do a dead ball appeal in FED.