Appeal on runner leaving early

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Aug 12, 2014
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This occurred in a HS game today. Bases loaded no outs, popup to short center. The second baseman made a diving catch (infield fly was not called). The runner on third was tagging but left early. The second baseman threw it to third, and the third baseman tagged the base. The runner was not called out. Ball back to the pitcher. The fielding team coach asked for time, said to the plate ump that the runner left early. The ump then called the runner out.

The ump clearly knew the runner left early, so shouldn't she have been called out immediately? Or is there something I don't know about this?
 
Nov 29, 2009
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It sounds like the situation was handled correctly. If a runner leaves early on a caught fly or pop-up the defense must appeal to the umpire the runner left early. If the umpire saw it they will call the runner out at that time. It is not an automatic call by the umpires like when a player leaves a base early on pitch.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
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This occurred in a HS game today. Bases loaded no outs, popup to short center. The second baseman made a diving catch (infield fly was not called). The runner on third was tagging but left early. The second baseman threw it to third, and the third baseman tagged the base. The runner was not called out. Ball back to the pitcher. The fielding team coach asked for time, said to the plate ump that the runner left early. The ump then called the runner out.

The ump clearly knew the runner left early, so shouldn't she have been called out immediately? Or is there something I don't know about this?

Leaving a base prior to the defense contacting a batted ball in flight is an appeal play. On appeal plays, an umpire is not permitted to address the violation until requested by the offended team. Simply throwing the ball to a base is not an appeal without providing some indication WHY the throw is being made. The umpire has to have some, any indication an appeal is being made. It can be anything from a grunt to a dissertation-like presentation, as long as the umpire knows it is an appeal.

In HS the coach or a player can make the appeal. In USA Softball, it must be an infielder, pitcher or catcher for a dead ball appeal.
 
Aug 12, 2014
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Does it make a difference if the runner is trying to get back? I've seen plays onone drives where the runner was going back to the base and was called out immediately.
 
Oct 25, 2013
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DFW Area
... The second baseman made a diving catch (infield fly was not called)....

Infield fly should NOT have been called if the "second baseman made a diving catch". One of the IFF parameters is that the fielder could have made the catch with "ordinary effort".
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
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Does it make a difference if the runner is trying to get back? I've seen plays onone drives where the runner was going back to the base and was called out immediately.

If it is clear to everyone in the park why the ball was thrown to 3rd the umpire could accept it as a live ball appeal. The play described says nothing about what the other runners were doing when the ball was thrown. From what has been described it would appear the umpire did not view the throw as a live ball appeal and waited for the verbal appeal to call the out.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
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Infield fly should NOT have been called if the "second baseman made a diving catch". One of the IFF parameters is that the fielder could have made the catch with "ordinary effort".

Not necessarily true. The rule states it is an IF if the umpires judges an infielder, catcher or pitcher "can" make the catch with ordinary effort. There is no requirement that negates the ruling because the player does not make the catch more difficult than originally judged.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
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So then why isn't it always a live ball appeal if the ball is still live?

Your question doesn't make any sense. If the ball is live, the appeal would be live. There is one exception where the umpire is directed to kill the ball when a pitcher is about to make an appeal while in the pitching position.
 
Aug 12, 2014
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Your question doesn't make any sense. If the ball is live, the appeal would be live. There is one exception where the umpire is directed to kill the ball when a pitcher is about to make an appeal while in the pitching position.

Yes, the ball was live in the original play. The second baseman immediately threw it to third and the third baseman stepped on the base. The ball never went back to the circle until afterwards, and time wasn't called until afterwards. The other runners were not attempting to advance. The only thing that might have made it unclear was that the runner on third made no attempt to go back to the base.

But from what Comp said, even though the ball is live, the umps don't have to consider it a live ball ball appeal.
 

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