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I am continuing to research this subject.
From PBUC - "Should a runner in scoring fail to touch home plate and continue on his way to the bench, he may be put out by the fielder touching home plate and appealing to the umpire for a decision. However, this rule applies only where a runner is on his way to the bench and the catcher would be required to chase him. It does not apply to the ordinary play where the runner misses the plate and then immediately makes an effort to touch the plate before being tagged. In that case, the runner must be tagged."
From Study Guide: College Baseball Rules - "Play 3-104 With one out, B1 singles and R2 attempts to score. There is a close play at the plate and F2 misses the tag as R2 misses the plate. F2 jumps quickly, steps on the plate and yells "I'm appealing" as he fires the ball to second to prevent B1's advance. Meanwhile, R2 scrambles back and touches the plate. Ruling: The run counts. That is not an appeal play since R2 did not leave the plate area and head for the dugout. He must be tagged."
Also from Study Guide - "Play 3-105 Same as Play 3-104, except R2 gets up and decoys that he is going to the dugout then reverses his pathc abruptly and dives for the plate. Ruling: R2 is out since he did not make an immediate effort to return (umpire's judgement). At one point, F2 would have been required to leave the plate area to make the play."
From Fed Case Book - "8.4.2 Situation O: R1 is on third with one out and when B3 hits safely. R1, while watching the ball misses home plate. F2 calls for the ball, steps on home to retire R1 and throws to third to get B3 sliding in. Ruling: Legal. Runner may be declared out for missing base during playing action. If R1 had attempted to return before defense initiated appeal action, he would have to be tagged."
I previously covered J/R discussion on relaxed vs. unrelaxed and I don't believe the runner who missed home has to be in the dugout to end unrelaxed action. There seems to be enough documentation for me to believe that a runner who leaves the dirt area around the plate headed for the dugout with no immediate concern for scrambling back to the plate to be called out without a tag upon proper appeal by defensive player on the plate with the ball verbalizing a desire to appeal. It appears that a good rule of thumb would be that if the runner leaves the dirt area, and the catcher would have to go after him to tag him then an out should be called without at a tag if the catcher stands on the plate with the ball and verbalizes his desire to appeal. Certainly, a player high fiving near the dugout qualifies to be called out without a tag upon proper appeal even if he then realizes that the defense is executing an appeal and tries to return to the plate. The return was not immmediate and only started due to defensive action.
Now where I have erred on this "untenable position"? I submit that based on the references I have provided there is at least a 50/50 chance that I am correct, and considering that one of the references provided indicates that an "immediate effort to return" is "(umpire's judgement)" I don't see how I can be called on the carpet so vehemently. My definition of immediate is clearly different than some others herein.
I suggest we all call it as we see it, and move on to another subject, since 100% agreement is rarely achieved on this forum. But the discussion is always good, and I learn a lot from it. I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". That is a real stretch for me, especially that death part.
[Edited by DG on Feb 16th, 2005 at 09:58 PM]
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