Hidden ball trick

[Rich]

Originally posted by Rackster
Sorry guys,getting confused here....PU thought pitcher had ball and on pitching plate (shame on PU for being fooled?Obviously this is what causes the problem.)and called "Play".Isn't it now a live ball? Runner takes lead and is tagged out.Offensive team claims it is an illegal play,but PU lets call stand.That was his ruling,i'm saying if ball is made live,even mistakenly,its a balk.I understand what everyone is saying about "can't have a balk on a dead ball",but how should this situation be ruled.Does the PU just say "My mistake,runner is not out,pitcher take the ball and lets play!"?Is there a rule for a dead ball mistakenly being made live? Also this is a Junior League game governed by LL rules.Junior League has added rules above the normal LL rules...i.e. 7 innings,leading,running on missed 3rd strikes,balks..etc.The junior league is for players aged 13 & 14.

[Edited by Rackster on May 14th, 2005 at 11:30 PM]

Yes, the umpire declaring the ball live presupposes that the pitcher is in possession of the ball, which is required by rule.

If the umpire isn't paying attention and doesn't notice that the pitcher doesn't have the ball, he should say "My bad" and should reset everyone. Because the ball doesn't become live until the pitcher WITH THE BALL is on the pitcher's plate.

The rule is the same in the pros, in college, in HS, and yes, in LL.