Appeals Handling appeals in high school baseball. More than you ever wanted to know about Appeals.

Abbreviations PU = Plate umpire BU = Base umpire B = Batter BR = Batter-runner R1 = Runner on 1st (R2 on 2nd, R3 on 3rd) F2 = Catcher TOP = Time of Pitch

Which team can appeal? Either team may appeal an umpire decision not involving judgment. For example, questioning the application of a rule.

Most appeals are by the defense Checked swing Runner missed a base (last time by) Runner left base too soon on a tag-up Improper batter Illegal substitute Illegal glove used in play

Checked swing When the PU calls the pitch a Ball, but the defense thinks the batter offered. Defense asks “Get help!” Under NFHS rules, PU is not required to go for help, but should consider this appeal as a “common courtesy.” (Make your life easier: Do it.)

Checked swing When working alone, say “Ball! No, he didn’t go!” With partners, just say “Ball!” When going for help, point to your partner with your left hand and ask “Did he go? BU will respond with “Yes, he went” plus Out signal or “No, he didn’t go” plus Safe signal.

Checked swing While either umpire may note whether the swing carried the barrel of the bat past the body of the batter, the final decision is based on whether the batter actually struck at (offered at) the ball. (Note: merely holding the bat in the strike zone does not constitute offering at the pitch.)

Checked swing An appeal of a checked swing does not itself result in a Dead Ball. On a play where the checked swing appeal is upheld by the BU, the batter/base runners may be in jeopardy based on the change in the call. The PU may wish to immediately ask the BU “Did he go?” so offense and defense will know where they stand, particularly with a possible Strike 3/Ball 4 call.

Checked swing Situation: 1-2 count. Batter checks his swing, pitch is in the dirt and gets past F2. PU rules Ball. Problem: If defense appeals check swing and BU rules Strike, the Batter is losing his opportunity to run to 1st. Solution: PU should immediately ask for help from BU. If BU rules Strike 3, PU needs to watch BR for legal path to 1st, and BU needs to prepare to make call at 1st.

Checked swing Situation: R1, 3-1 count. R1 stealing on the pitch. Batter checks his swing, PU rules Ball, but F2 throws to 2nd anyway resulting in R1 being tagged before reaching 2nd. Ruling: BU should initially not rule R1 Safe or Out since the pitch was ruled Ball 4. If an appeal is made and the pitch is now ruled a Strike, the BU should then make the Safe or Out call, depending on what happened at 2nd.

Checked swing Situation: R1 is stealing on the pitch. 3-0 count. Next pitch is a check swing which PU rules Ball 4. F2 is already throwing to 2nd to retire R1 when BR takes off for 1st and in doing so, interferes with F2’s throw. R1 is Safe at 2nd. An appeal is made to the BU on the swing. Ruling if BU rules “No swing”: Ball 4 is upheld; no problems. Ruling if BU rules “Strike”: Batter’s interference on F2’s throw. Batter is ruled Out; R1 is returned to 1st. If this situation happened with a 2-Strike count, both Batter and R1 will be declared Out.

Missed base/left base too early Defense must appeal infraction (years ago, the umpire called the runner Out without an appeal) The appeal must be intentional (unintentional appeals are not recognized as appeals) Appeal can be made during the course of action or after the play is over. Thus, appeal can be made while the ball is still Live or during the Dead ball following the play.

Missed base/left base too early The appeal must be made before: The next pitch (legal or illegal) (an illegal pitch is an illegal act by F1, with/without runners on base) An intentional base on balls (tricky, because we call Time to award intentional base on balls) A play or attempted play initiated by the defense

Missed base/left base too early The appeal must be made before: (continued) The end of a half-inning (defined as the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory) On the last play of a game, before the umpires leave the field of play (DBT line)

Missed base/left base too early Live Ball Appeal Made by a defensive player with the ball in his possession by tagging the runner or the base that was missed or left too early. Runners may advance during a live ball appeal. If the offense initiates a play, the defense does not lose its right to appeal.

Missed base / left base too early Dead Ball Appeal May be made by a defensive player or the coach, with or without the ball. May be an action (throw the ball to a base, touch a runner) or merely a verbal appeal (“R2 left 2nd base too early”) If the ball went out of play during the play and bases are awarded, allow the runners to advance to their awarded bases before entertaining the appeal.

Improper batter Rules 7-1-1 and 7-1-2 If improper batter is detected during the at-bat, the proper bat may pick up count. Once an improper batter completes his time at bat, upon appeal, the batter who failed to bat in the proper order is called out; all runners return.

Improper batter – cont. Outs made on the play stand. Runners’ advances during the improper batter’s time at bat based on steals, balks, wild pitch, passed ball shall stand.

Illegal Substitute Rules 2-36-3 and 3-1-1 If illegal sub. is discovered on offense, he’s called Out and restricted to bench for rest of game. Other Outs made on the play stand; runners return to TOP base.

Illegal Substitute – cont. If illegal sub. is discovered on defense, he is restricted to bench for rest of game. Offense has the option to let the play stand or to allow the batter to bat again. The penalty for illegal substitution supersedes the penalty for batting out of order. Any player for whom an illegal sub. plays for may re-enter only if he is eligible to do so. (3- 1-3)

Illegal Glove Rules 1-3-6, 1-5-7, 5-1-2g, and 8-3-3 a, b, c) We’re talking about a glove that exceeds the maximum dimensions allowed, NOT a detached glove NOR a pitcher’s glove with white or gray. If a ball is touched by an illegal glove, the team at bat has the choice of taking the result of the play or the award.

Illegal Glove – cont. The illegal glove must be replaced immediately. A foul fly caught with an illegal glove shall be nullified and treated as a Foul Ball, unless the team at bat elects to take the result of the play.

Illegal Glove - Awards 4 bases for ball touched and then goes over fence 3 bases for touching fair batted ball 2 bases for touching thrown or pitched ball Delayed Dead Ball situation

Special Considerations Multiple appeals are permitted as long as they do not become a travesty of the game. Multiple runners at the same base OK Multiple bases for the same runner OK

Special Considerations – cont. Tag up is considered a Time Play and not a Force Play. Tag up means the batter has flied Out. When the batter is retired, there can be no Force Play. A missed base appeal may or may not result in a Force Play Out.

Special Considerations – cont. A runner may not legally return to a base if: The ball becomes Dead and he is on or then touches an advance base He has left the field of play (i.e., he crossed the DBT line) A following runner has scored.

Special Considerations – cont. In such a case, award runners bases, allow them to retouch, whatever, and then wait for the defense to appeal. Situation: R1. Batter hits safely to the outfield. R1 misses second. Throw by F9 to 3rd is released while R1 is between 2nd and 3rd and while BR is between 1st and 2nd. The throw goes Out of Play as R1 slides into 3rd. R1 now on 3rd; BR now on 2nd.

Special Considerations – cont. Action by umpire: Kill the ball (“Dead Ball!”). Place R1 on Home and BR on 3rd. If the 3rd base coach tells R1 to go back and touch 2nd because he missed it, allow R1 to do so (don’t tip off the defense). After the base awards have been made, see if the defense appeals that R1 missed 2nd and was not legally able to go back and retouch. If they appeal, R1 is called Out.

Special Considerations – cont. If appealed runner called Out for the 3rd out had scored, all following runners may not score. If appealed runner called Out for the 3rd out was a Force play or the batter-runner being called out before reaching 1st base, no runs score on the play.

Special Considerations – cont. Be aware of game-ending hits involving force plays: ALL runners must advance at least 1 base. An appeal may be made after 3 Outs as long as it is made properly; may result in an apparent 4th Out which would be of benefit to the defense (i.e., may cancel a runs or runs scored).

Special Considerations – cont. Runner misses Home Plate: Immediately trying to return to touch: runner must be tagged If runner is on his way to the bench, the catcher may touch the plate with the ball for a successful appeal. (appeal must be intentional)

Questions?