4th out appeal... or not?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I knew the answer, but was seeing if anyone would bite on the catcher, whose "normal position" is not in fair territory.

True. And it's not by the dugout, either.

There is one thing missing from some (maybe all?) softball rule sets that you will find in baseball, and that's when the catcher (or another infielder) has to retrieve the ball from foul territory to initiate the appeal. In that case, the fielder is allowed to leave his "normal position in fair territory" and not be penalized.

But that's the case because in those organizations, they don't recognize a verbal-only appeal. The defense has to tag the runner or the base to make the appeal. In softball, where verbal-only appeals are allowed, I don't believe an infielder chasing down the ball in foul territory is going to maintain her ability to appeal. At least I think that's the case.