LL Rules - appealing an out at home plate

[UmpJM]

Pete Booth,

I must respectfully disagree with your point (if I understand it correctly) that the "calling" is purely judgement (and by implication, cannot be properly appealed) while the enforcement/penalty part of the ruling is the "rule" part that may be properly appealed (if incorrect).

Let me use your extreme case to illustrate my point.

Were I the defensive manager during your play, here is what I would do.

1. I would wait until the action of the play had relaxed and request "Time".

2. When granted, I would approach the BU (assuming two man crew) and I would ask him:

a. If, in his judgement, there was a collision between the R2 and my F6. Assuming he says yes, I would then ask

b. If, in his judgement, F6 was attempting to field a fair batted ball at the time of the collision. Assuming he says yes, I would then ask him

c. Why he did not make a call of interference per 7.09(l)?

Now, in real life, I've gotten a number of interesting answers to this question. For example: "Because the runner was in the baseline"; "In my judgement, the fielder should have been able to field the ball anyway"; "The ball was still on the infield grass".

When I get such replies, which indicate that the umpire does not have a proper understanding of the application of Rule 7.09(l) (or whatever the rule relevant to the situation in question), I suggest that he has misapplied the rule and request that he correct his call. If he fails to do so, I thank him for entertaining my appeal and inform him that I am protesting the game. I then promptly return to the dugout.

Again, all calls involve both judgement and rule application. Judgement is "what happened" - rule application is "what is the proper call based on what happened."