Deception play

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

It's the yelling of "get back" that is the violation I think.

Yep. Mimicking offensive personnel or speaking directly to the runner is where verbal obstruction happens.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Matt

Yep. Mimicking offensive personnel or speaking directly to the runner is where verbal obstruction happens.

Well, I find it too nitpicky that yelling, "Get back, get back," is cause for a violation, but yelling, "I got it, I got it!" is perfectly acceptable. There is no play to be made on the thrown ball, so the comment is purely meant to send the runner back.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Well, I find it too nitpicky that yelling, "Get back, get back," is cause for a violation, but yelling, "I got it, I got it!" is perfectly acceptable. There is no play to be made on the thrown ball, so the comment is purely meant to send the runner back.

Quite the opposite. It provides a clear delineation as to when to call it or not. Otherwise, you get into inconsistent enforcement based on trying to determine the fielder's intent, and at its extreme, any trick play with any sounds would be illegal.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Well, I find it too nitpicky that yelling, "Get back, get back," is cause for a violation, but yelling, "I got it, I got it!" is perfectly acceptable. There is no play to be made on the thrown ball, so the comment is purely meant to send the runner back.

Luckily, the casebook tells you what to call here, so you can ignore the fact that you, personally, find it too nitpicky. Given that we have this one spelled out for us, we don't have decide on our own whether this is nitpicky or not.

[nopachunts]

Working 2B in a Regional Semi-Final last Friday. Runner on 2B. Defense did a great imitation of the Miami deception play. Runner wanted to go for 3B and the 3BC yelling to stay. It was fun to watch.

Both teams were well coached.