Saturday, July 13, 2013

Case Play 2013-07: Hidden Ball Trick Fails due to Time Out

Case Play: The Padres attempted a hidden ball trick play Friday night, innings before Manager Bud Black was ejected for arguing a correctly ruled obstruction call. With two out and Giants baserunner Pablo Sandoval on second base in the top of the 5th inning, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera concealed the game ball while pitcher Sean O'Sullivan walked toward the back of the mound and into the 18-foot dirt circle.

F6 tags R2 as F1 stands to the side of his plate.
As Sullivan ascended the dirt hill, Sandoval took his lead and Cabrera snuck in from behind to tag him. 2B Umpire Laz Diaz, however, ruled time had been called resulting in no play and therefore no out or balk. (Video: Time called, no play). Specifically, time was out after Sandoval's double immediately preceding Pence's at bat (the base coach entered the field to retrieve Sandoval's protective gear) and the ball was never put back into play as the pitcher did not assume his position on the pitcher's plate and HP Umpire Mike Winters did not call "Play."

This frivolity actually explains why a hidden ball trick can never be executed after a double, charged mound visit or other event that results in a call of "Time" immediately afterward.

Q: Had "time" not been granted to either Sandoval or batter Hunter Pence prior to the tag out, what would the proper call have been—out, balk or otherwise—and how should play proceed? This case play expires Sunday 7/14/13 at 3:00pm. Time's up! The correct answer is below...

A: Rule 8.05(i) states it is a balk when "the pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch." Because neither of these events occurred (the pitcher did not stand on his pitchers plate or astride it—he did not straddle it—and he did not fake a pitch, there is no balk and the runner is out. The inning is over.

The rule concerning balks under the professional rules set requires the pitcher to address the pitching rubber via contact or perceived contact (e.g., astride). Under NCAA 9-3-f and NFHS 6-2-5, this same situation is a balk because it becomes a balk when a pitcher steps within five feet of the rubber (NFHS) or merely onto the dirt area of the pitching mound (NCAA).

Correct Responses: Angel55Snapback, Bob Abouy, clawdad, CricketChapman (via e-mail), gkiewitt, kickersrule, Moe, NorthStarUmpire#2, RadioPearl, Radwaste50 (way to cite rules by level of play!), Red @ss Ump, RolBama24, rgoldar2, SJR, toss 'em, Turducken, ump_24, UmpsRule (via e-mail).

Related: MLB Ejection 094: Laz Diaz (1; Bud Black)