Ball 4, You're Out?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

The reason it was put that way was because you cannot appeal abandonment/desertion. The batter didn't put the ball in play and wasn't required to run to first to touch the base. The batter was not HBP or got a BB with bases loaded to force in the run. So basically what you have here is that the advance of the runner had nothing to do with the batters actions. He had a simple base award. If you go over and simply step on first, batter is still without liability of being put out. Simply put you have to treat this just like a missed base. Then you will get the third out and no run will score. Do this and you should have no problem. I'm not citing the missed base ruling, but this is the proper way to appeal.

I totally see your point here. The batter cannot be called out for abandonment, as he has not yet reached 1st base. He can't be called out for desertion, as he has not entered the dugout or bench (or other DBT).

My questions are:

1) At what point could you declare the BR out on an appeal, since he still can complete his advance to 1st base, by rule?

and a very similar question:

2) 4.09(b) only applies when bases are loaded and 7.08(a)(2) does not apply either. How do you determine when the BR has waited too long to go to 1st?

I think I'll wait till he's at Dairy Queen and call him out then.