'hidden' ball trick

quote:

Or is this just stupid base running?

Sounds to me like this sums it up.. The play wasn't even over.

Ok, so when is the play over?

If the umpire does his job right, it doesn't in that situation. It sounds like a legal play.

The ball is only "dead" when:
1) Foul ball
2) Umpire calls "Time" for whatever reason (this covers many situations)

Until then, the ball is live and outs can be recorded.

Ok, maybe I should be asking this in a different way.
If the ball is alive, what would be the conditions for an illegal hidden ball trick?

I think if the pitcher actually toes the rubber without the ball, you have an illegal hidden ball trick.

The rules make no mention of a hidden ball trick, and when the ball is live, any defensive player is entitled to hold the ball.

Nor does this play line up with the usual meaning of "hidden ball trick". Here the ball came to F6, no defensive player approached him, and he didn't throw it. Obviously F6 has the ball.

There is a possibility of a pitcher being called for a balk, if he is (OBR, NCAA) on or astride the rubber without the ball, or (FED) within 5 feet of the rubber without the ball. But common sense has to prevail: in FED, a pitcher who picks is likely within 5 feet without the ball, but there is no balk for that. Nor does a pitcher have to detour around the mound during the fielding of a batted ball and the subsequent action, even though he doesn't have the ball.

So, if the game was played under OBR, there is no possibility of a balk in the OP. Under FED rules, if action has relaxed, and the pitcher was within 5 feet without the ball, that may be a balk.

But in the OP action was not relaxed yet.

Again, there is no rule against hidden balls, or a definition of an "illegal hidden ball trick".

There is a limition on the position of the pitcher when he doesn't have the ball-- it's part of the balk rules.

My point was that the only time the hidden ball trick becomes illegal, was when it becomes a balk because the pitcher toes the rubber without the ball or in certain codes comes very close to toeing the rubber without the ball.

Time called is the only other reason why the ball wouldn't be in play for a hidden ball trick.

But as usual, 3 Fingure says it with much more precision.