base tricking?

[GarthB]

Of course there is a way and it happens quite often, unfotunately. How? You get an umpire who knows the rules about as well as the idiot former assistant who told you about the play.

That is the one hazaard of playing by the rules, it goes unappreciated and misuderstood when the official doesn't know them.

But, according to the rules, if time is called the ball cannot be put back in play unless the pitcher possesses it and is in contact with the rubber. Thus, in the scenario you present, there is no out because the ball was dead.

However...if time is NOT called, and the pitcher does not take the rubber without the ball and the runner is dumb enough to lead off seeing all this, then BANG, he's out when tagged off the base.