appeal at home plate - runner missed touching the plate

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by splitveer

Recently at the ASA Class B state tournament we had this situation. Runner on Second base touches third and goes home on a single to left field.

Coach notices that the umpire did not make a call on the runner.

If there's a play being made, the umpire should signal safe ... if no play, you don't signal safe every runner that crosses the plate.

Before the ball goes dead coach has the pitcher throw the ball to the catcher and then touch home plate...still no call....so, the catcher runs toward the dugout where the catcher and runner do the two step before the runner is tagged out.

Bad umpire. How'd this guy get a state game?

Here are my questions.

1. I thought to appeal all you had to do was touch the missed base OR touch the runner that missed the base???? Why wasn't the runner called out when we touched the base.

I've already answered this --- it's because you had a bad umpire. (You are correct in your appeal process).

2. When the catcher went to tag the runner by the dugout, where is the baseline considered. Can the runner run anywhere to avoid the catcher?

As in any tag situation, once the tag attempt begins (not the chasing, but when the catcher is close enough to start trying to tag), the runner cannot run more than 3 feet perpendicular to the line between that runner and the base she's going to --- the line being "drawn" the moment that tag started. Of course --- nothing says she can't try to escape by going within 3 feet of the line between her and THIRD base.

3. The coach said he would have never noticed if the umpire would not have just starred at the home plate. I saw this in the WCWS and there was a big discussion on whether or not this was correct mechanics by the umpire. What are your thoughts.

ASA, the umpire should rule the runner safe when they cross home plate (assuming there is a play being made on her). Runners are assumed to touch bases they pass, until and unless appealled. Of course, if there was no play, umpire did this correctly. Staring at home plate, however, is a huge no-no.