Quote:
5.02 While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored,
5.11 After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls "Play." The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.
8.05(i) If there is a runner, or runners, 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.
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Situation: OBR Rules. Runner on 3rd, no outs. Ball is dead via timeout or foul ball. Pitcher is given new ball by HP. While ball is still dead, infielder conference near, but not on the mound. F1 slips the ball to F5 unnoticed by anyone. As fielders return to position F5 has ball concealed in his glove. F1 takes place on rubber. Umpire calls "play". R3 takes lead and is then tagged by F5.
The correct call/action would be:
a) Since F1 did not have posession of the ball on the rubber, ball is still dead so umpire rules "no play".
b) Balk since F1 was standing on the rubber without the ball.
c) Do-over since umpire should never have called play to start with.
d) Other please explain.