Can you come up with the correct answer to this baseball rules question?

Question

This was a Little League baseball game and the team at bat had a runner on third base with less than two outs. The batter hits a fly ball to the outfield and the runner tags up at third base and is half way home when the outfielder makes the catch. After the play the manager for the defensive team calls time out and talks to his pitcher. The pitcher goes back to the mound steps on the rubber and than steps off and throws to third base to appeal the runner leaving the base on a tag before the catch was made. The correct call was made by the umpire, what was that call?

The correct answer with the best explanation wins best answer.

One additional very important detail. The throw from the pitcher to third base went over the head of the third baseman into dead ball territory. If you have answered this question and want to change your response please do it.

Official baseball rule 6.08A and 7.08C&J apply. Continuous play must occur to make an appeal. If the umpire calls time out continuous play resumes after he says "play ball" and the pitcher can step on the rubber and then step off and throw to third base on the appeal. However, if the manager calls time out the continuous play stops and no appeal can be made after play resumes. Also, the rules say if you throw the ball in "dead ball territory" such as the bleachers or dugout, the appeal will not be granted. In this case the appeal was denied and the run scored because of the manager time out before the appeal.

Answer 1

I would say safe because the play ended when time was called by the defensive team.

And with the deadball overthrow then all baserunners are awarded the next base so I say safe and run scores on both accounts.

Answer 2

According to the details you gave us, the runner on third base is out. You said that the runner was halfway down the line when the outfielder caught the ball. This means the runner did not tag up properly and left the base too soon.
HOWEVER
The pitcher did not need to step on the rubber and then off again to appeal. Any of the fielders on the field could have thrown the ball to third base to throw the runner out. If the pitcher had in fact thrown a pitch after the bad-tag-up, the run would have counted.

NOW
Since the ball was thrown into dead ball territory all runners are awarded 1 base. However, the runner left too early. So the defending team could still appeal the call and get the runner called out.

Answer 3

If you are correct in view of the play the player never actually TAG UP. Because he left the base before the ball was caught by the outfieder. All they had to do was throw the ball to the man covering 3rd base and stepping on the bag.
As long as the pitcher never threw a pitch to the next batter
he can make the appeal play to 3rd base.
But, the manager did call time out and visited the mound
which means the previous play was complete and the run scores and the runner is safe. All the manager had to do was to call out to the pitcher to finish the play without the timeout.

Answer 4

The defense only gets one chance at an appeal. Assuming the ball was made live when the pitcher was on the rubber, the first play was an overthrow ending with a dead ball. At this point the defense has lost its chance to appeal, so the run counts.

Answer 5

The runner is out at third. The runner can only tag up after the ball was caught by the outfielder. Since the ball was thrown on an appeal at third base and not during an actual play, I don't believe it matters if the ball goes past the fielder.

Answer 6

He's out. He left early and didn't go back. The calling of time does not affect this at all. The only way that run counts is if the pitcher throws a pitch home. He toed the rubber, then stepped off, and threw to the third base bag. Out as out can be.

Answer 7

People really don't like it when askers change the situation in the middle of the game. How in the world would those who answered the question as soon as you posted know that the pitcher threw the ball out of play?

Anyway, the appeal is to be denied because the defense erred on the play by throwing the ball out of play.

Answer 8

Since the ball ended in dead ball territory. I think on a dead ball call all runners go back to the last base that they were at. Since he crossed the plate that was the last place he was at before the umpire signaled anything and the defense screwed up. So, with that said I would say the runner scored.

Answer 9

The runner is out, he tagged up before the catch was made. The pitcher can appeal a decision by stepping on the rubber, stepping off, then someone tagging the base. Thi process has to be done before the next pitch is thrown.

for more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_play

Answer 10

Assuming that, after the throw, the ball was retrieved from foul territory and the fielder stepped on third base, then the runner would be out.