Quote:
Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
If the throw to 1st base is at the same time as the runner is attempting to return, this is absolutely not an appeal play. This is purely a judgement call - did the ball beat the runner, and requires an immediate call.
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I was with ya right up to here. It is an appeal play. I must be misunderstanding you.
The live ball appeal does not normally need to also be verbalized. Everyone in the ball park knows why the throw was made back to the base, even though they may not know its proper name. An umpire who would insist on a verbal appeal in the situation described in the initial post is not correctly applying the rules on a proper live ball appeal.
This is not to say that there are NOT situations where the verbal must accompany the live ball appeal for it to be recognized. DDTB game an example. Here's another: BR bunts up the 3rd base line. Fielder snags the ball and fires to 1st base, but it arrives a step late. BR has stepped across 1st before the arrival of the throw, but did not touch 1st.
F3 does catch the throw with her foot on the bag. Even though technically this is a throw to the missed base, it should not be recognized as a live ball appeal for the missed base (it is more likely a late play on the force out) unless F3 also says words to the effect of "she missed the base, Blue" before the runner returns to the bag.