Appeal

[tankmjg24]

So this is a rather dumb question, but there is currently a debate going on in my association over what the definition of an appeal is.  Thoughts?

[ElkOil]

An appeal play occurs when a member of the defensive team calls the attention of an umpire to an infraction which he would otherwise ignore.

[renegadewolf]

Section 2.0 in OBR has a pretty clear definition..... But why let facts get in the way of a good debate.

[noumpere]

So this is a rather dumb question, but there is currently a debate going on in my association over what the definition of an appeal is.  Thoughts?

​I think you need to find a new association, but maybe that's not what you were asking.

[maven]

Actually, 'appeal' is used in some rather different contexts. Some are plays, some are not.

An 'appeal play' is one of two types: a retouch appeal, or a missed base appeal. FED permits dead-ball verbal appeals, but everyone else requires that the ball be live and that the runner or base be tagged. OBR 5.09(b)(5)/7.08(d), 5.09(c)/7.10

A check/half swing appeal occurs when the defense requests the PU check whether a pitch he ruled a ball should be a swinging strike. The defense may also appeal batting out of order. These appeals are not plays. OBR 6.03(b)/6.07, 8.02(c)/9.02(c)

On a goofy play (OBS, INT, or MC, or a pulled foot at 1B, for example), a coach may also "appeal" and request that the crew discuss it ("get help"). Such appeals fall under the same rule as check swings and batting out of order. Also not plays. OBR 8.02(b)/9.02(b)

I suspect that the association is either involved in a pissing contest of some sort, or somebody found a rule he doesn't understand.

[Replacematt]

Actually, 'appeal' is used in some rather different contexts. Some are plays, some are not.

An 'appeal play' is one of two types: a retouch appeal, or a missed base appeal. FED permits dead-ball verbal appeals, but everyone else requires that the ball be live and that the runner or base be tagged. OBR 5.09(b)(5)/7.08(d), 5.09(c)/7.10

A check/half swing appeal occurs when the defense requests the PU check whether a pitch he ruled a ball should be a swinging strike. The defense may also appeal batting out of order. These appeals are not plays. OBR 6.03(b)/6.07, 8.02(c)/9.02(c)

On a goofy play (OBS, INT, or MC, or a pulled foot at 1B, for example), a coach may also "appeal" and request that the crew discuss it ("get help"). Such appeals fall under the same rule as check swings and batting out of order. Also not plays. OBR 8.02(b)/9.02(b)

I suspect that the association is either involved in a pissing contest of some sort, or somebody found a rule he doesn't understand.

​I would go with the hypothesis that the latter started the former.

[JaxRolo]

Section 2.0 in OBR has a pretty clear definition..... But why let facts get in the way of a good debate.

​Its no longer section 2 in OBR. Its on page 139

 

The Official definition is:

An APPEAL is the act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules
by the offensive team.

[tankmjg24]

So here is a bit more to the story.  In high school ball in our state there are no protests, so up until our summer games we have not had to worry about a coach protesting a game.  The start of the issue occurred in an OBR based game.  Batter squares to bunt and his foot makes contact with home plate, however he is still making contact with the white line of the batters box.  PU signals that the batter is out.  Coach comes down and asks what happened, and PU states that the batter is out as he was on the plate when he made contact with the ball.  Coach (smart if you ask me) asks if he was entirely out of the box, to which PU replies that it does not matter as he was on home plate.  Coach then asks PU to talk to his partner as he feels that PU is confusing the FED rule and OBR rule.  PU refuses and states that he is not going to appeal to his partner as it is his call and that he has made it.  Coach then protests the game based off the fact that he feels the batter was still in the box and that PU is confusing the FED and OBR rule.  PU refuses the protest as he states that this is a judgement call.  

PU has realized his mistake in confusing OBR and FED, so that is not what is the issue.  Issue is that our group is debating whether the protest should have been granted.  Half of the group feels that this is an appeal play and that the umpire was right in denying it, while the others (the side I am on) feel that this was a rule book interpretation and should have been granted.  As a result, it has started a huge mess.  Honestly, I think that everyone is just bored as it summer time lol.  

[Rich Ives]

Why would it being an appeal play preclude a protest?

And I'd protest his refusal to accept the protest. The protest committee decides the validity, not the umpire. The accused cannot judge himself.

[noumpere]

I agree with Rich.  As soon as the P word is uttered, the crew must get together.

 

Where was BU in all this?

[DVA7130]

That's definitely not good.

Always accept a protest. If they truly are stupid and do it over a actual judgment call, it's there money.

I view it with a "challenge accepted" viewpoint.

[Rich Ives]

That's definitely not good.

Always accept a protest. If they truly are stupid and do it over a actual judgment call, it's their money.

I view it with a "challenge accepted" viewpoint.

​Depends where you are. LL forbids protest fees.

[tankmjg24]

This tournament happened to be a privately ran one being hosted by a training facility in the area.  The majority of non HS games we assign to in the summer is hosted by this facility.  If a game is protested, there is no protest fee.  The coach is responsible for citing what rule he is protesting and then the site coordinator calls the head umpire to get a ruling.  Once the head umpire rules, the game continues.  In this particular situation there is 3 of us that could potentially get the call.  We would hear the complaint then look up the rule and determine what happens next.  Coaches can only protest a rule book interpretation, as appeals and judgement calls are not protest situations.  The true debate we have going on is what a coach can protest and what they cannot as described by the situation I previously mentioned. 

[MooseLoop]

Whether the rule provides that a batter is out if he is touching the plate when he bats the ball is a rule interpretation, and protestable.  

Assuming the rule does so provide, then whether the batter is touching the plate when the ball is batted is a judgment issue, and not protestable.