Check Swing Appeal

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by martynva

R1 with 3-1 count on the batter. Batter attempts to check swing, PU calls "ball". When BR is half way to first, catcher finally asks PU to appeal to FU, and FU says "Yes, he went". By now R1 is on second. F3 says "hey, he needs to come back to first" and Runner obliges and returns to first. No Problems, but ...

What if Runner stayed at Second? Live ball, why should he return?

What if F-3 called for the ball and tagged the runner as he returned to first? Again, live ball, no requirement to return, shame on him for listening to F3?

R1 can stay at 2nd if he wishes because even though R1 thought he was forced on a walk, he actually "stole" 2nd base! If he returns to 1st, the ball is live and he can be tagged. The offense needs to know what they are doing no matter what F3 says (OBR, NCAA). In a FED game, if the umpire hears F3 tell R1 to return, the umpire would call Verbal Interference and place R1 at 2nd base.

As far as the batter goes, he never became a runner so he returns to the plate even if he is standing on 1st base. The defense has the right to appeal the batter's checked swing until the next play or pitch.

As far as the umpires mechanics, the count was 3-1. the PU has to wait for an appeal from someone to go to the BU. If F2 waits until B1 is down the line or even at 1st base, that's the defense's problem. Now if the count were anything & 2, the PU should be going ASAP to the BU even without an appeal.

The Pro mechanic is if the PU doesn't come to the BU right away (anything & 2), the BU gives the appeal without the ask. This allows both the offense & the defense to know what the game situation and decision is.