Appealable vs. Non-Appealable Calls

Umpires hear this frequently from coaches throughout the season – “Appeal the call!!” But what is appealable and what is not? Here are the guidelines to follow regarding appeals…

The head coach CAN appeal the following calls. Remember, just because the coach asks for an appeal from the making the original call DOES NOT mean the umpire has to grant the request.

1. A check swing called a BALL by the home plate umpire.

2. A tag play questioning if a fielder tagged a runner or not.

3. Leaving the base early on a . On this appeal, the ball must be live for the appeal to take place.)\

4. A play where a fielder pulls the foot off the base receiving the throw.

5. A that leaves the field near the foul poles.

6. A foul-tip that is caught or not caught cleanly by the catcher on strike three.

7. A ruling that a coach feels that there is reasonable doubt that the umpire’s decision is in conflict with the rules. JUDGMENT CALLS DO NOT FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY!!!!!!!

The following calls CANNOT be appealed under any circumstances by the head coach or any of the assistant coaches because the following calls involve the judgment of the umpire and/or umpires.

1. A called ball or strike by the home plate umpire.

2. A “check swing” strike called by the home plate umpire.

3. A “check swing” strike or ball called by the first base umpire on appeal from the home plate umpire. In cases involving Numbers 1, 2 and 3 a coach that argues either Numbers 1, 2 or 3 can be ejected from the game since the coach is arguing balls and strikes. Remember, in case three, the home plate umpire NOT THE CATCHER must ask the base umpire for the appeal.

4. A “bang-bang” or “clean” play at first or on any force play where the fielder clearly is on the bag and does not pull the foot off when receiving the throw to first or on any force out play at any base. Remember, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE RULE BOOK THAT SAYS A TIE GOES TO THE RUNNER. THE RUNNER IS EITHER OR OUT!!!!!!!!!!! That means: On a “bang-bang” or “clean” , the offensive coach can’t come out of the to argue or state to the umpire responsible for making the original call: “The player was safe, you called the player out, I want to appeal your call to the home plate/base umpire.” Same with the defensive coach: “The player was out, you called the player safe, I want to appeal your call to the home plate/base umpire.” This is clearly a judgment call by the umpire responsible for making the original call and it DOES NOT fall under “reasonable doubt than an umpire’s decision may be in conflict with the rules” as stated in the rulebook. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE AND/OR BASE UMPIRE OVERRULE THE UMPIRE THAT MADE THE ORIGINAL CALL JUST BECAUSE THE HOME PLATE AND/OR BASE UMPIRE MIGHT HAVE HAD A BETTER VIEW AND A “BANG-BANG” OR “CLEAN” SAFE- OUT CALL CAN’T BE OVERRULED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!!

5. vs.

6. Fair vs. Foul on batted balls that stay in the field of play.

7. Any and all other calls involving the judgment of the umpire or umpires as well as the umpire’s judgment in regards to the playing conditions or the fitness of the field once the game begins.

8. Coaches that repeatedly argue or continue to question judgment calls with the umpire that made the original judgment call and/or continue a discussion about a previous judgment call with the umpire’s partner later in the game and/or “show up an umpire” by saying anything and/or by their non-verbal actions incite the fans will be subject to ejection!!

***The word "appeal" is frequently misused. JUDGMENT CALLS BY UMPIRES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO QUESTION OR OBJECTION BY A MANAGER OR A COACH. Rule 9.02(a) “Any umpire's decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decisions.”

The only "appeal" of this nature that a manager may make under the rules is if the manager feels that the umpire has misapplied a playing rule. In this case, rules 9.02(b) and 9.02(c) apply: 9.02(b) “If there is reasonable doubt that any umpire's decision may be in CONFLICT WITH THE RULES the manager may appeal the decision and ask that a correct ruling be made. Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision.”

Even if the manager does believe that the call was incorrect under the rules, you can see that it is still necessary to go to the umpire who made the call, and let him or her decide whether to ask his/her partner for more information.

9.02(c) “If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it.”

****Thus, for example, when a manager thinks the base umpire "blew" a safe/out call at first base and goes to the plate umpire saying, "Can I appeal that?" HE HAS NO BASIS UNDER THE RULES FOR THE REQUEST. THE SAFE/OUT CALL IS A JUDGMENT CALL, AND THUS NOT QUESTIONABLE. Even supposing it were, the question should have been directed to the base umpire, not the plate umpire. The plate umpire should, therefore, simply answer "No" to this question.

That being said, if the manager approaches the base umpire and requests that he ask his partner to see if he had a better angle, THIS IS NOT AN “APPEAL”. SIMPLY A REQUEST. The base umpire is under no obligation to go to his partner, but may do so if he feels that his partner may have information that bears on the call.

***Also, The rulebook explicitly states: 9.02(c) ... No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. IF THE BASE UMPIRE MAKES THE CALL THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO OVERRULE IT. Similarly, if the plate umpire makes a call, the base umpire has no authority to overrule it.

Rule 9.02(c) also includes the following…. If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision.

Thus, an umpire may only become involved in a call if his or her partner chooses to ask. MANAGERS HAVE NO RIGHT TO GO TO ANOTHER UMPIRE AND ASK HIM OR HER TO CHANGE A CALL OR ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE CALL. The only thing a manager can do is to go to the umpire who made the call and request that he or she check with his or her partner.

The use of the word "appeal" in 9.02(b) deals specifically with the issue of whether or not a call IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE RULES, NOT WHETHER A JUDGMENT CALL WAS CORRECT OR INCORRECT!!!!!!!!