Too Late to Appeal?


 
With two out and the bases loaded, B1 grounds to the shortstop. The shortstop's throw to first base is off-line, but the base umpire (from the "C" position) believes that the first baseman's foot was on the base when he caught the throw, so he calls B1 out at first base, to end the inning. All the defensive players have entered their dugout and the team that was at-bat has begun to run to their defensive positions. However, head coach thinks that the first baseman may have been pulled off the base before securing the throw for the last out of the inning. That coach would like the base umpire to get help from the plate umpire.
 
Is it too late for the base umpire to get help from the plate umpire on this play? If so, when did his time expire? If not, when does it expire?
 
Call
This situation illustrates that there are limits to when a coach can question a call and then perhaps have it subsequently reversed. Most incorrectly call all such questions "appeals". Appeals are narrowly defined in NF 8-2-6a as either:

1. A runner missing a base, or
2. A runner leaving the base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touched.

NF also refers to a question of the proper batting order as an appeal. Appeals must be made before the next pitch, the next play, the infielders leave fair territory, or the umpires leave the field at the conclusion of the game. A request to get help from another umpire on a pulled foot falls into NF 10-2-3i1. It is interpreted that a team has until the next pitch or play by EITHER team to request help. In the inning-end force out described in the situation below, the coach has until his team goes on defense and makes a pitch or play. If umpires huddle and determine that the last out of the inning should be reversed, then the inning will continue with B1 on first base.