Senor Azul

From the 2021 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 6.8, p. 100): ...A runner is allowed to assist another runner physically; however, all other members of the offensive team (e.g., base coaches, on-deck batter, a runner who had just scored or has been put out, a batter, etc.) are not allowed to assist. When a play is being made on the assisted runner, the umpire should call "Time" and enforce the penalty: The runner is out, and all runners return to the bases occupied at the time of the interference (assistance). If no play is being made on the assisted runner, the umpire shall signal that the runner is out and allow the ball to remain alive...

Mr. JonnyCat, the only thing I can find is a short discussion about infield fly and players in a shift in the 2013 Wendelstedt manual (section 8.4, footnote 361, p. 155). ...Had the first baseman been playing in his normal position, he could have easily caught this ball. But on this particular play, he could not have gotten to it with ordinary effort.

Prior to 1920, OBR considered a pitch touching the bat accidentally to be a strike. Then in 1920 the rule was changed to it being a dead ball. They deleted that rule in 1921 and the rule has been called a fair or foul hit ever since.

Since no rule set was specified in the OP, here's a FED rule that actually uses the word "touch." FED rule 7-2-3...A foul ball or a fair hit (which may be a bunt) occurs when a pitch is touched by the bat of the batter who is in the batter's box. (2-5-1, 2-16-1, 2-16-2)

Babe Ruth League uses OBR. OBR covers this question in an interpretation found in the 2021 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 5.20, p. 59): ...As long as the pitcher is not committed to pitch, a runner may advance and is considered to occupy the last base touched at the time the pitcher initiates his actual delivery to the batter. The preliminary motion known as the "stretch" is not considered the start of the pitching motion. From a Set Position, this is defined as the moment the pitcher begins the natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter after the pitcher has come set with both hands together in front of his body.

From the 2016 BRD (section 499, p. 324): FED: The name listed on the lineup card establishes the official batting order. No penalty is provided if a player's name and number do not match in the scorebook or lineup card. Also see current case book play 1.1.3 and 2006 online interpretation #8.

From the 2023 FED rule 3-4-1: ...Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged conference... Case Book play 3.4.1 Situation F: "A conference is not charged when 'Time' is called for an obviously incapacitated player..." If the umpire believes that a player is faking an injury so that a coach can talk to the pitcher or another defensive player without being charged a conference, the umpire may prohibit additional conferences from taking place at that time.

The 2021-2022 NCAA rules clarified that their FPSR does not apply to the batter-runner. Also, under the original 1845 written rules runners could be put out by possessing the ball and stepping on the base the runner was advancing to. They changed the rule in 1848 to only first base could a runner be retired in that way. The definition of a force play didn't come along till the early 1860s. The out at first by just touching the base has been almost always the way game has been played.

From the 2016 BRD (p. 27): 14 APPEALS: PITCHER THROWS FROM PITCHER'S PLATE FED: No provision. Treat as in NCAA. NCAA: It is not a balk if the pitcher from the rubber throws to a base for an appeal. (8-6b-10) This section has been in the BRD since 1992 yet Mr. Childress didn't figure out that FED rule 6-2-4b was all that was needed.

NFHS case book play 2.29.6 Situation B: Ruling:..."Because an appeal is not a play..." Two different definitions of the terms--why use them interchangeably?

I can quickly and easily find the following statement for OBR and NCAA: An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play. I think that would also apply to FED baseball as well. I will do a little research and come back later. But for now, Mr. maven, don't we have something of a conflict if we use the definition of a play as a definition of appeal?

The OBR interpretation that Mr. MadMax posted earlier can be found in the 2021 MiLBUM (and also in the MLBUM) in section 6.27 on pages 118-119. The NCAA actually has this in its rule 8-6b-10. According to the 2016 BRD, there's no FED provision and it recommends that we use the NCAA rule for high school games. I searched but couldn't find any FED case plays. The closest (and it's not that close) I found is current case book play 2.29.6 Situation B with a pitcher throwing to third for an appeal but it doesn't actually say the pitcher is engaged.

Is this what you are asking about? 6.1.3 Situation E: With R1, F1 receives the ball from F2 and with the feet in set position stance and in contact with the pitcher's plate (a) nervously tosses ball in glove two or three times, or (b) removes the ball from the glove. RULING: This is a balk in (a) and (b). Restrictions on F1's movements begin when F1 intentionally contacts the pitcher's plate with the pivot foot.

Mr. Tborze, there was a change made to FED rule 2-32-2 in 2017. It allowed sliding runners at the plate to overslide and make contact with a fielder. Here's the rationale given in the online interpretations: ...The committee altered this rule since the physical design of home plate makes it difficult for a runner to break momentum on a slide as opposed to the other three elevated bases...

Check out the NFHS online interpretations that would seem to indicate that it would be an illegal slide: 2000 FED online Situation 12