Quote:
Originally posted by gmtomko
Do you think he was coached to do that?
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It doesn't need to be. Players will pick up the tricks that others are successful at when they see them happen.
We did this frequently decades ago. It was, of course, our intent to get the pitcher to stop and the ump to balk him---which also happened about half the time. When it didn't happen, we were never penalized so we had nothing to lose in trying other than the pitcher might pitch for a strike. It was no worse than merely taking a pitch.
Players will do many illegal things when umpires don't apply the rules since they feel they have everything to gain and little to lose.
Experience speaking,
Freix