Batter Can Be Called Out After Hitting a Homer
Question (Part One):
This scenario came up last night but we did not have to get clarification because of another circumstance, but it intrigues me. Was hoping you could help me out.
Batter hits a home run and misses first base as he rounds the bases. After the runner crosses home, manager of defensive team says he wishes to appeal. Umpire yells “play ball”, pitcher toes the rubber and steps FORWARD off the rubber (towards home plate)(Craig’s Comment: I can tell right now that this is not going to end well for the pitcher)and throws to first. Umpire calls batter out.
I know from review that the pitcher never needs to toe the rubber for the ball to be live, but what happens in this scenario with the pitcher stepping forward? Never could find a clear cut answer.
Answer:
Since the ball was hit out of play (HR) it creates a “dead ball” situation. The umpire by rule cannot put the ball back into play until the pitcher is in contact with the pitching plate and all fielders other than the catcher are in fair territory.
Once the ball is put into play by the umpire, the defense can make an appeal, providing the appeal is legal. The pitcher may disengage the pitching plate (stepping back with the pivot foot) to make the appeal or the pitcher may appeal directly from the pitching plate by stepping toward the base and throwing the ball. The step must occur prior to the throw, just as in a “pick-off” move.
In this scenario the pitcher stepped toward home plate. In doing so he/she is committed to deliver the pitch. Stepping toward the plate and throwing to a base is an illegal pitch (a balk in Intermediate (50/70) division and above). Once a pitch, even if it is an illegal pitch is delivered; the defense loses the right to make an appeal.
Question (Part Two):
Same scenario, but umpire never puts ball in play, so it is dead the whole time, even when an out is declared. A new appeal is permitted correct?
Answer:
By rule an appeal cannot be made until the ball is “live”. Any attempt at an appeal when we have a “dead ball” situation should have no safe/outsignal from the umpires. If this does happen it tells me that the umpires either are not paying attention or do not understand the rules. In either case; the defense still has the right to make a proper appeal after the ball is put back into “play”.
Question (Part Three):
Through all of this, I am also curious, do we instruct umpires to tell a pitcher how to make a proper appeal or that after a failed appeal (and when a new one is permitted) do we instruct umpires to inform the team a new appeal is possible?
Answer:
We instruct umpires to watch what happens and make the calls accordingly. During a game, an umpire should never instruct a team on how to make a proper appeal or if they have the right to make another attempt at an appeal. This is giving an advantage to the defensive team.(Craig’s comment: Many a time in my experience the manager or coach has looked at me with this question on their mind: How do they make the appeal? And each time I just look at him and say nothing.)
The managers and coaches have an obligation to know the rules and to instruct their players on how to make a proper appeal. We do our best to instruct managers and coaches on how to make a proper appeal during training sessions or before/after the game. We even have a document written just for managers/coaches on making appeals, because I have had this happen many times on the field.
Question (Part Four):
The manager or a player request “time” and then after time is granted, they try to appeal before the ball is put back into play.
Answer:
In these situations, if an umpire is going to do anything, it will be to simply state: “We have a dead ball”. Meaning nothing can happen right now. Everyone is looking at the umpire to do something, but nothing can happen with a dead ball situation.
Question Two (part one):
Bases loaded, home run. R1 stops short of home plate to "celebrate" the team-mate who hit the homer. So he never crossed nor touched home. I thought "o crap", but then he was told "touch home" and did. What if he remained "short" and the BR touched home? We think that BR is out for passing preceding runner. But then where does R1 go?
In the scenario provided you have indicated that R1 stopped short of home plate. Since I am not sure exactly what happened during the celebration; I will break this into two different scenarios for better explanation.
Scenario 1: R1 stops to celebrate the home run prior to reaching or passing home plate. R1 remains in the area that would be considered the base path between 3rd base and home plate. The batter-runner passes R1 and touches home plate. The batter-runner is called “out” for “passing a preceding runner” based on LL Rule 7.08(h). (Craig’s comment: I have made this call 3 times in the past 6 years…and several times before that. It does indeed happen and everybody gets all upset with me when in reality the call is the result of a coaching and base-running failure and the only person who got things correct was the umpire.)
Scenario 2: R1 stops to celebrate the home run prior to reaching home plate. During the celebration and prior to being passed by the batter-runner; R1 reaches or passes, but does not touch, home plate. This would be treated just as any other missed base. R1 would be subject to being called “out” upon execution of a proper appeal. Remember in this scenario, we have a “dead ball” situation because of the home run. The ball would have to be put back into “play” prior to any attempt of an appeal. Also, R1 would not be allowed to legally return to touch home plate after the batter-runner has scored.
LL Rule 7.08
Any runner is out when –
(h) passes a preceding runner before such runner is out;
LL Rule 7.10
Any runner shall be called out on appeal if –
(b) with the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, the runner fails to touch each base in order before said runner, or a missed base, is tagged;
APPROVED RULING: (1) No runner may return to touch a missed base after a following runner has scored.
Question Two (part two):
Scenario#1 was about to occur before a team-mate told the knucklehead to touch home plate. In essence, nothing happened. But we (umps) talked about it afterwards. We all agreed that 7.08 would have applied. BUT - where does R1 go? We thought that he goes back to 3rd base as it is a dead ball
Answer:
Based on LL Rule 7.05, R1 was awarded home when the batted ball left the playing field in-flight in fair territory. In reality, this award was made under “dead ball” conditions. R1 being passed by the B-R does not change the award. R1 may continue and legally touch home plate.
LL Rule 7.05
Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance -
(a) to home base scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and the runner touches all bases legally;
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