OBR 5.11 is it or is it not

[chris s]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wpiced
[B]All right, I belong to a rather influential umpire's association in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the officers of the association is truly an expert on the baseball rules, OBR, NFHS, NCAA, USSSA, etc. He clearly says that, "a dead ball becomes live when the pitcher steps on the rubber with the ball."

Now, I have read and reread rule 5.11 of the OBR and I just can't see it. "THE PLATE UMPIRE SHALL CALL "PLAY" AS SOON AS THE PITCHER TAKES HIS PLACE ON HIS PLATE WITH THE BALL IN HIS POSSISSION." That seems to be a requirement for the UIC. But, What if the F3 is still standing in foul territory when F1 steps on the rubber and the UIC is waiting for F3 to get into fair territory. R1 bolts for second base. If I am the UIC, I put R1 back on first and tell him to wait until I put the ball in play. By the way, so that there is no misunderstanding, I always "point" the ball in play and will not allow any action until I do.
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If a player is not completely in fair territory, let the ofended team complain, if F1 and F2 are in position, B1 is "reasonably" set, put it in play. O coach then comes crying that F3 had a foot in foul area..."Hey F3, get your *** in the playing field". Next time, toss F3. Until you make ball live, there can be no advance, piock, pitch, out...etc