What wasn't stated in the OP and, after reading Batman's rulings, IMO is the
determining factor in weather it's a pitch or appeal is... was the batter in the
box when the ball was thrown to the catcher?.

Pitcher on rubber, the ball is live, batter in box, pitcher delivers ball to
catcher...That's a pitch. The fact that everyone knew what was happening is
irrelevant.

Pitcher on rubber, ball is live, batter NOT in box, pitcher delivers the pall to
the catcher who, properly appeals to the PU which runner (if multiple) they are
making the appeal on. That's an appeal.


--- In WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com, "Lee Batterman" <batman@...> wrote:
>
> Some pretty heated discussion on this one.  It seems to come up every
> year, and has been beat up each year.  Here is the ruling from EVERY
> authority out there including LL, PONY, USSSA, Evans, R/R, etc.
>
> All the arguments about 'unoccupied base', the plate being a BASE, clear
> intent to APPEAL, etc. are all good points, and if the truth were
> know...  I agree with the position you can make an appeal from the rubber
> to the plate.  However, I (we) are in the minority.  The consensus and
> rulings are:
>
> If the pitcher while in contact with the pitching plate, delivers the
> ball to the catcher, with a Batter in the box, it shall be considered a
> PITCH (or an Illegal Pitch/ Balk depending on the situation).  If there
> is NO Batter in the box, the Pitcher MAY appeal from the rubber to the
> plate, although it is not a good idea or practice.  In effect, this is no
> different than a pitcher requesting a new ball prior to the next batter
> entering the box, and without requesting 'time', he throws the ball to
> the catcher.  Time IS NOT out in this situation until the Umpire either
> take the old ball from the catcher, or take a new ball from his bag (when
> the umpire holds the ball time shall be out... by rule).  The presents of
> a Batter in the box, is the test, and MUST be strictly adhered to. 
> Although I believe the umpire can request the Batter to vacate the box,
> allowing for the appeal (I see this as a 'Game Management' issue and not
> assistance), there is a thought line out there among umpires, that feels
> the Umpire is ASSISTING the defense with their appeal id he does this.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> BATMAN
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: russkyl49
> To: WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WRLLUmpires] Appeal from the rubber
> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:08:56 -0000
>
>
>
> This is from one of our umps who just joined the board. It happened
> in our first tournament game, majors.
>
> Runner misses home. Catcher without the ball, it never came in, says
> out loud he missed home. Manager calls time out to talk with the
> pitcher. The catcher tells the manager the runner missed the base.
> Manager yells to PU that hey I want to appeal that play. PU informs
> manager the ball must be live for any appeal. The manager returns,
> Pitcher toes the rubber, PU says play. Without disengaging the rubber
> the pitchers throws an outside pitch to the catcher.
>
> What have you got, Ball to the batter, Illegal pitch ball to the
> batter, proper appeal, batter is out.
>
> Russ
>
>
>
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