Just catching up to old posts, because I haven't been here in a while, and because I can't access the LL Facebook discussion board from work.

Here's something to ponder:  Under OBR, a pitcher may throw the ball to a base from the rubber to make an appeal.  Is there something written somewhere that says ANYTIME a pitcher throws towards home from the rubber, it must be considered a pitch, no Ifs, Ands, or Buts?

The reason I ask was that it was pretty clear the defense was intending to appeal a missed base at home.  If everybody knows that's what's going to happen next, do we really disallow the appeal if the throw comes from the rubber?

Something else for consideration:  OBR 2.00 says, "?A PITCH is a ball delivered to the batter." [my emphasis in bold].  This wasn't a ball delivered to the batter; rather, it was a ball thrown to the catcher nowhere near home plate.

Finally, rule 8.01(c) says, "At any time during the pitcher's preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw." [again my emphasis].  So, is home considered "any base"?  And if you know he's throwing to home to appeal, and he really makes no natural pitching motion but, rather, just steps and throws from the rubber, is that really a pitch that would negate an appeal?

Stirring the pot to stir up the board...

Why hadn't you put the ball in play?  There's no requirement that the batter be in the box first.

5.11 --

After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes position on the pitcher's plate with a new ball, or the same ball in said pitcher’s possession and the plate umpire calls "Play." The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes position on the plate with possession of the ball.

Hey Big M...

The very first thing the pitcher needed to do was make an "obvious" attempt at an appeal. If the coach really said throw it wide, it seems to me he was clearly thinking any "pitch" would make the ball live and in play.....and he basically ordered his pitcher to pitch, not appeal. The PU couldn't very well say "I wouldn't do that if I were you..."

Anyway, thats my 1.5 cents.  I miss you buddy!

Sure sounds like a pitch to me, no appeal, sorry

Hey Mario!  Long time!  Good to hear from you!

If the manager made it VERY clear by saying something like, "Hey Bobby, just throw the ball to the catcher so we can appeal the miss of home," would that be enough to make it unmistakable?

Again, I'm just stirring the pot a little....

Mark__P wrote:

 

 

 

What if the pitcher then threw a perfect strike and the manager said to you, "I just said that to get in the batter's head. I knew the runner touched home and just wanted an easy first pitch strike."

Then the PU could tell him, "Skip, you made it very clear and unmistakable to me that the pitcher was just throwing the ball to home for an appeal.  So why would I rule Ball or Strike on a throw?"

Rich_Ives wrote:

 

Why hadn't you put the ball in play?  There's no requirement that the batter be in the box first.

 

(snip)

 

 

 

 

That's what I was wondering