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A team loses the right to appeal when (a)the defensive team has initiated another play somewhere, (b)when the last defensive player has stepped over the foul line to end the inning, or (c) when the last umpire leaves the field.
The first case is the most likley, lets say the coach is yelling at the pitcher to appeal. While this is going on, the runner at second (not involved in the appeal play) bolts for third. The pitcher throws to third to try to make a play. Regardless of that, when the ball is returned to the mound, they have not lost that right. The offense intiated a play, an appeal is still good.
If the pitcher tried to pick him off (a throw over off the rubber or just a throw from off the rubber), after the play is dead or ended in reasonable judgement of the umpire, they lose that right.
At the end of innings/games, the (b) and (c) may apply.
Remember verbal appeals can be made in certain dead ball scenarios as well, most notably when a player misses a base on a walk off homer. As you are walking off the field, the defensive coach runs up to you, says "the batter missed 2nd base". That is a legal appeal (and one alot of us would say "no he didn't" to, but thats a different debate).
I'm not so sure about other dead ball appeals, but I think FED allows them to be made verbally anytime the ball has been made dead by something that has happened during the play. Help?
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