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On any live ball appeal, if it is clear from the playing action that a live ball appeal is being made, no verbal or other indication by the defender is necessary. This is true for most "leaving early on a caught fly" live ball appeals. It is obvious to everyone, including the umpire, what the defense is doing.
However, on any live ball appeal where the purpose of the tag of the base is ambiguous, it is necessary for the fielder to make it clear somehow to the umpire that an appeal is being made and what is being appealed. This ambiguity can be because the players action could be just a late throw to 1B, because there may be more than one runner on base (which runner is being appeal for what), etc.
In no case can a runner be appealed for leaving early or missing the base she is standing on when the live ball appeal is made. (In the case of the double base situation, the crux of the disagreement was is standing on the white base the same as being on the base missed; IOW, the BR can "return" to the white to negate the miss of the orange, but... well, that is for on that thread...)
In no case will an accidental live ball appeal be honored in ASA. "Accidental" means the fielder does tag the base, but without actually knowing she was making a live ball appeal (e.g. walking the ball in and happens to step on the base).
Hopefully, with these guidelines, you can apply them to your various situations.
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Tom
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