Appeals question
 

I'm a Cal Ripken 9-12 coach. My first post here so I apologize if this has been covered.

In a recent game I felt a runner left early from 3B on a caught fly ball. After play ended and ball returned to my pitcher I called time so my pitcher couldn't throw a pitch and instructed my third baseman to go to bag and for my pitcher to throw it to him for the appeal. The umpire told me I could not appeal because my calling timeout to tell my kids how to do it killed the appeal. He said once a TO was called no appeal could be made. I've searched the rule book but can't find any confirmation. Would appreciate being pointed to the section that states this if it is the rule. Thanks in advance.

You don't need to call time out in this case. Just throw the ball back into 3rd base and make the appeal. By calling time out, you didn't kill the appeal, per se. You just have to make sure the ball is put back into play, and have your pitcher step off the rubber legally and make a proper appeal.

Thank you sir. That's what I thought as well. I knew it wasn't required to call a timeout but I had an inexperienced pitcher and 3B and wanted to make sure they knew what to do. Appreciate the help.

When I coached, it was something I practiced regularly. Outs are valuable.

The ball must be live for an appeal, but the pitcher does not have to step off.

If that were the case, an offensive coach would request Time after every play where a runner takes two or more bases on a hit, and on every tag-up on a fly ball.

You'd be surprised how many HS coaches still go through this dance, even though they can make a verbal appeal.

Including the "calling time" part -- I usually just ask, "Hey -- what are you trying to do?" and then rule on the appeal when they answer the question. ;)

I hade a coach last night go through all of this foolishness. I walked over to him at the end of the inning and asked that he just make a verbal appeal. He said he didn't know he could do that.

Well I learned something new. Didn't know you could make a verbal appeal and not throw to the base. Thanks everyone.

Depends on your rule set. Fed, aka NFHS High School, rules allow a dead or live ball appeal by a coach or player with or without possession of the ball.

Last I saw Cal Ripken rules, it was OBR (Official Baseball Rules). The ball must be live and there are no verbal appeals by the coaches.

In your ruleset you would have to make the play.

Rita

Are you sure?

Really?

Play: R2 at 2nd base. Routine base hit into the outfield that scores R2. BR stops at 1st. The defense wants to appeal that R2 missed 3rd base. The ball is still live. Although they can throw the ball directly to 3rd, the pitcher steps onto the rubber then, comes set then, without stepping off, he throws directly to 3rd base.

Would that not be considered a balk for throwing to an unoccupied base?

A pitcher can throw to an unoccupied base for the purposes of making "a play". I have always been taught that an appeal is not "a play", however.

If all I've said above is true (and I'm not 100% sure it is) - then, it would seem, that the pitcher does have to step off or be liable for a balk; at least when it involves throwing directly from the rubber to an unoccupied base.

OBR 8.05(d) - If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play.

Why would an appeal not be a play?