The hidden ball trick!

[TaylorMadeBoy]

Has anyone seen it done in a while, or do you have any oher intersting "sneaky" plays you have seen?:sssh:

[GRC4LIFE]

Back in Little League a long time ago!!! On a wild pitch with a runner on third base on a ball that got away from the catcher about 10 feet the runner came a 1/3 of the way down the line and our catcher dropped his mask at same spot and ran back to home to hold the runner at third he faked giving the ball back to the pitcher the pitcher put his head down and starting walking slowly back to the mound!!! At the same time the catcher looking out of the corner of his eye kept track of the runner on third and sure enough here he came running home smiling all the way {and the pitcher never looking at the runner} The catcher turns and runnuing towards the plate and tags the runner standing up!!! Sorry buddy your out!!!!!!!!! Thats the best one I have ever seen!!!!!

[cshs81]

I have not seen it in a game at the high school level or above in many, many years. Its hard to pull off since the pitcher is not allowed to be on the dirt without the ball in his hands.

[jr92]

I have not seen it in a game at the high school level or above in many, many years. Its hard to pull off since the pitcher is not allowed to be on the dirt without the ball in his hands.

 

Yes, I think the "hidden ball trick" has been made illegal in Ky. high school baseball.

[cshs81]

Yes, I think the "hidden ball trick" has been made illegal in Ky. high school baseball.

 

 

How so? If there are already rules in place for it what did KY add?

[AverageJoesGym]

When I was a junior (this was in 1987) we were playing Danville in a Central Kentucky Conference championship game (which doesn't even exist anymore) and we pulled a variation of the hidden ball trick. We had a pitcher and catcher go warm up in the bullpen which was OUTSIDE the field of play down the right field foul line. Danville had a runner on first and two outs with their best hitter at the plate in a tight (I can't remember the score at the time but we only won by one run) game. Our pitcher backed off of the mound to "rub the ball up" and when he saw the runner take a step or two off of first he faked a throw to first base and put the ball in his glove. The first baseman dove back across the runner and threw up as much dirt as he could in the process, at the same time everyone in the dugout started pointing down the right field line and as well as the pair that was warming up outside the fence. The pitcher went so far as to drop the ball he was holding on the ground to make it look like the ball was inside the fence (everything happened so fast I don't think it made any difference but it was a nice touch). The runner dove headfirst back into first and with all the dust and everyone's reactions him and the coach at first were completely fooled. He got up and took off to 2nd and was thrown out by at least 20 feet. As far as I know this would still be legal as our pitcher was in the grass when he faked the throw, had the runner not started his lead until he was on the mound it wouldn't have worked. As it was it ended up being a pivotal play.

[jr92]

How so? If there are already rules in place for it what did KY add?

 

Im not sure, but I think there is a ruling that disallows any 'trick' plays used to deceive runners. I guesss it would be the umpires discrection to not allow any such plays to happen. Im not really sure, thats just what an umpire told me last year.

[oldrambler]

I have seen it done a few times. Of course, the best I have ever watched it pulled off was hears ago in the college world series. Miami (Fla.) pulled it ff to perfection. Even down to the dugout jumpimg up and pointing as to direct where the ball was, the bullpen also chimed in on it.

 

I have seen in it a couple of h.s. games along with variations off of it and when coaching a babe ruth team I had my team try it and actually pulled it off once. All of these instances were years ago and I am not sure if Ky. has made it an illegal play now, or not. I love stuff like this as well as the suicide squeeze bunt play. Imo it s just more things that make baseball great.

[nees1212]

We used to do it in knothole all the time. However, back then, you didn't have to be completely off the mound, just off the rubber. In high school, we had one trick play that worked a few times. Runner on 2nd with either 0 or 1 out (doesn't really matter, but it helps sell it). Pitcher is on the rubber in the stretch. 1st and 3rd basemen charge home yelling bunt as load as possible, along with the guys in the dugout. SS covers 3rd, 2nd baseman cover 2nd. If it works, guy on 2nd either takes off for 2nd, or stands there like a deer caught in headlights. Pitcher steps off the mound and nails the runner. The key to the situation too, is make sure the other team doesn't use the play also. :lol: I was on 2nd when a team tried to pull that on me. I saw the 1st and 3rd basemen charging, and I walked back to 2nd laughing. The 2nd basemen was like, ''well, 'crap', that didn't work.". I told him to try using it on a team that doesn't already practice it. :lol:

[HHSDawgs1424]

When I was a junior (this was in 1987) we were playing Danville in a Central Kentucky Conference championship game (which doesn't even exist anymore) and we pulled a variation of the hidden ball trick. We had a pitcher and catcher go warm up in the bullpen which was OUTSIDE the field of play down the right field foul line. Danville had a runner on first and two outs with their best hitter at the plate in a tight (I can't remember the score at the time but we only won by one run) game. Our pitcher backed off of the mound to "rub the ball up" and when he saw the runner take a step or two off of first he faked a throw to first base and put the ball in his glove. The first baseman dove back across the runner and threw up as much dirt as he could in the process, at the same time everyone in the dugout started pointing down the right field line and as well as the pair that was warming up outside the fence. The pitcher went so far as to drop the ball he was holding on the ground to make it look like the ball was inside the fence (everything happened so fast I don't think it made any difference but it was a nice touch). The runner dove headfirst back into first and with all the dust and everyone's reactions him and the coach at first were completely fooled. He got up and took off to 2nd and was thrown out by at least 20 feet. As far as I know this would still be legal as our pitcher was in the grass when he faked the throw, had the runner not started his lead until he was on the mound it wouldn't have worked. As it was it ended up being a pivotal play.

 

Sounds like the play from Little Big League.... :sssh:

[HHSDawgs1424]

What about Beechwood's "trick" play they pulled off to beat NCC in the All A region championship 2 years ago?

 

Runners on 1st and 3rd for Bwood, kid on first takes off running in to right field causing everyone to start screaming and make the pitcher to turn quickly stepping off the rubber and balk. Ball game, Beechwood wins.

[KY Thorobred]

What about Beechwood's "trick" play they pulled off to beat NCC in the All A region championship 2 years ago?

 

Runners on 1st and 3rd for Bwood, kid on first takes off running in to right field causing everyone to start screaming and make the pitcher to turn quiclly wittepping off the rubber and balk. Ball game, Beechwood wins.

 

Dunbar used to do that a few years ago.

[AverageJoesGym]

Sounds like the play from Little Big League.... :sssh:

 

I hadn't thought of that, we actually stole it from Miami of Florida. Our coach had seen them use it, we tried it about 3 times but that's the only time it worked.

[BirdieCat]

Has anyone seen it done in a while, or do you have any oher intersting "sneaky" plays you have seen?:sssh:

 

The Tigers had a trick play pulled on them just this past weekend down in Alabama. With runners at 1st and 2nd, there pitcher, before going on the rubber, wheeled and facked a through towards 2nd base. The SS dove in front of the runner, The 2nd baseman dove behind the runner and the center fieilder started charging and yelling that he had it, their dugout was yelling get the ball. Our coaches started yelling "GO" and the runner at second headed for third and the pitcher threw the ball to his 3rd baseman for the out.

 

Shame on us for falling for it, but it was well executed.

 

JMHO But, if KY has a rule to prevent this type of play; that is lame. I guess someone got their feelings hurt because they got fooled by another team pulling it on them.

 

:laugh: Those Cry-babies are just mad cause they didn't think of it first. :laugh:

[Milfordflash]

The Tigers had a trick play pulled on them just this past weekend down in Alabama. With runners at 1st and 2nd, there pitcher, before going on the rubber, wheeled and facked a through towards 2nd base. The SS dove in front of the runner, The 2nd baseman dove behind the runner and the center fieilder started charging and yelling that he had it, their dugout was yelling get the ball. Our coaches started yelling "GO" and the runner at second headed for third and the pitcher threw the ball to his 3rd baseman for the out.

 

Shame on us for falling for it, but it was well executed.

 

JMHO But, if KY has a rule to prevent this type of play; that is lame. I guess someone got their feelings hurt because they got fooled by another team pulling it on them.

 

:laugh: Those Cry-babies are just mad cause they didn't think of it first. :laugh:

Harrison County does that play quite often.I haven't saw them play this year yet,but they have done this many times in the past.Beware if you are on second base playing the Breds.