# MLB - "appeal" vs "challenge"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 29, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006 "2026-07-29T19:47:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/1 "2026-07-29T19:47:22Z")
On a ball/strike call - the batter or the catcher (pitcher as well?) can “challenge” the call - losing the challenge costs the team a challenge. Who can “appeal” a call (usually to the 1st or 3rd base umpire)? If you can appeal - why waste a challenge? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/2 "2026-07-29T20:10:22Z")
Appeals are only to challenge if a batter’s swing counts as a swing, or was checked in time to not be a swing. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/3 "2026-07-29T20:15:50Z")
Also, an appeal of a swing/no swing call can only be made by the catcher or team manager. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/4 "2026-07-29T20:34:18Z")
Not the batter? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/5 "2026-07-29T20:44:00Z")
Nope. A batter can challenge a ball/strike call, but only a catcher can ask for an appeal to the 1B/3B umpire. The home plate umpire doesn’t have to grant that appeal, but they generally do. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/6 "2026-07-30T14:49:21Z")
In Bouton’s _Ball Four_, he recounted a spring training experiment where the batter could request an appeal to first or third if the home plate ump ruled the batter did swing. They abandoned it because the base umps invariably confirmed the home plate ump’s judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/7 "2026-07-30T14:58:43Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > A batter can challenge a ball/strike call, but only a catcher can ask for an appeal to the 1B/3B umpire That’s interesting. I’ve seen batters do it, but I guess it’s a useless gesture. I know the 1st and 3rd base umps don’t do anything until the homeplate guy asks for it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/8 "2026-08-04T03:34:31Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Appeals are only to challenge if a batter’s swing counts as a swing, or was checked in time to not be a swing. And there is no limit to appeals. Mostly because it doesn’t happen frequently enough for there to be limits imposed. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/9 "2026-08-05T14:18:25Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > In Bouton’s _Ball Four_, he recounted a spring training experiment where the batter could request an appeal to first or third if the home plate ump ruled the batter did swing. They abandoned it because the base umps invariably confirmed the home plate ump’s judgment. I don’t even think the standard for what a “Swing” is was the same then. It used to be you could literally go far enough your bat pointed at the pitcher but if you didn’t break your wrists and you snapped the bat back quick enough they didn’t call it a swing. Now the standard is, more or less, if the bat crosses the plane of the front part of the plate. I remain irritated that the rulebook has no actual physical standard for what a swing is. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/10 "2026-08-05T14:21:51Z")
Also because the ruling is immediate with no real delay to the game. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/11 "2026-08-05T14:22:50Z")
Just to note that “appeal” has a specific meaning in the rule book. When the defense throws to a base and asks the umpire to rule that the runner missed the bag, or left early when tagging up: that’s an appeal. “Challenge” is that new-fangled thing about balls and strikes and replay reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/12 "2026-08-05T14:24:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I remain irritated that the rulebook has no actual physical standard for what a swing is. It seems that they are working on that and introducing some sort of automated system. One standard they were considering is the first-base line (or perhaps a line parallel to it). With the current pitching domination and high strikeout rates I’d be happy with a more lax standard on check swings. It’s seems pretty crazy to expect a hitter geared up for a 102mph fastball to check his swing on these crazy sweepers without going at least a bit past the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/13 "2026-08-05T15:21:47Z")
Exactly, and I find it discriminatory. I’ve never heard an explanation for that. If anyone knows, please post. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-appeal-vs-challenge/1032006/14 "2026-08-05T20:09:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t even think the standard for what a “Swing” is was the same then. It used to be you could literally go far enough your bat pointed at the pitcher but if you didn’t break your wrists and you snapped the bat back quick enough they didn’t call it a swing. Now the standard is, more or less, if the bat crosses the plane of the front part of the plate. Yes, I remember when “he broke his wrists” was the threshold, though I don’t recall when it shifted to crossing the front of the plate (though clearly it has). Apparently a swing is similar to SCOTUS defining obscenity—the ump knows it when he sees it. 😄