Hidden Ball Trick

[Jaylin]

http://www.local10.com/news/4837335/detail.html

MIAMI -- While Major League Baseball has more than its share of in-depth strategies and subtle maneuvers, it was a trick straight out of little league that defined Wednesday night's Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks game.

The Marlins pulled off the old "hidden ball" trick at a critical moment in the eighth inning.

Arizona's Tony Clark singled to left field and Luis Terrero, the tying run, advanced to third.

That's when the Marlins turned to a bit of sleight of hand. Pitcher Todd Jones acted like he had the ball, but third baseman Mike Lowell was still holding it, waiting for Terrero to step off the bag.

After about 10 seconds, Terrero took his lead off and Lowell tagged him out, specifically showing the hidden ball to the umpire.

The Marlins closed out the game with 4 runs in the ninth inning for a 10-5 win. Lowell also used the same trick last September against Montreal.

[msb3079]

i'm not a big fan of baseball.. but saw this and thought it was pretty cool.

[GZire]

.....again, the fundamentals of the major leaguers is at an all time low.

[ravegoo35]

They can also hide the ball inbetween folds of their steroid induced muscles. God Bless America!

[partyman66]

Wow.. sad.

Anyone with even moderate baseball/softball experience knows that you always wait until the ump calls time before you get off the base at all.

[Jaylin]

Originally Posted by GZire

.....again, the fundamentals of the major leaguers is at an all time low.

What will they think of next?

The funny part is that this isn't the first time that this guy did the hidden ball trick.

[Phelan]

Originally Posted by partyman66

Wow.. sad.

Anyone with even moderate baseball/softball experience knows that you always wait until the ump calls time before you get off the base at all.

Uhm, yeah...that makes stealing bases or taking an extra base on a hit kinda difficult. It's standard practice from Little League on up to lead off the bag a couple steps.

[ckforensic]

Insert the old dunce emoticon here.

[GZire]

Originally Posted by Jaylin

What will they think of next?

The funny part is that this isn't the first time that this guy did the hidden ball trick.

Geez, it's only been around since the 1800's.....two centuries ago. Like I said, the fundamentals of the MLB guys is really at an all time low.

[Jaylin]

Originally Posted by GZire

Geez, it's only been around since the 1800's.....two centuries ago. Like I said, the fundamentals of the MLB guys is really at an all time low.

Yes it is, but it makes for soem great entertainment.

[partyman66]

Originally Posted by Phelan

Uhm, yeah...that makes stealing bases or taking an extra base on a hit kinda difficult. It's standard practice from Little League on up to lead off the bag a couple steps.

It's also standard practice to wait until the pitcher has the ball to do it.... and not before the ump calls time.

Look at rule 5.02:
http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of..._in_play_5.jsp

[Phelan]

Ok you got me there. Common sense does say to wait till the pitcher has the ball.