http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/

http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/

 

Why would this be illegal...the pitcher has to throw to a base from the rubber but as far as I know, the catcher can throw anywhere.

It will have to do with the umpires interpretation of the vocal obstruction.

It will have to do with the umpires interpretation of the vocal obstruction.

 

Correct. High school rules forbid such a play.

This happened in a JV or frosh game in the 9th region this year . The only difference was the catcher threw to the SS .The ump called the runner out .After talking to a couple other umps , they said they would have called it obstruction .The one who called him out was a inexperienced ( jv or frosh )ump . The 2 that said they would call him out are varsity umps .

Regardless of whether it is legal or illegal at whatever level, plays like that are one thing.....bush league. What you are telling your kids when you resort to plays like that is "we can't beat the other team straight up." That's the reason you won't see that kind of stuff when you watch the CWS or MLB this week.

Nice play, I might have to teach that in LL just to see if we could pull it off...besides have fun with it. Half of LL is to have fun, right?

A number of teams throw to the shortstop with runners at 1st and 3rd with the shortstop in effect cutting off the throw in an attempt to get the get the runner at third. It still goes back to what is being said by the players. If you cut that throw and the second baseman applies a fake tag then you also have obstuction. Tough in a two man system.

A number of teams throw to the shortstop with runners at 1st and 3rd with the shortstop in effect cutting off the throw in an attempt to get the get the runner at third. It still goes back to what is being said by the players. If you cut that throw and the second baseman applies a fake tag then you also have obstuction. Tough in a two man system.

 

CCHS Dad...I have no problem with the throw to the SS in a 1st and 3d situation to catch the runner at 3d. That's a standard play and doesn't rely on infielders yelling at the runners, it's just a matter of catching a runner sleeping.

 

However, this is a play solely designed to get a runner at first to think that the ball was popped up and freeze or run back to the bag by having the infielders yell that it is a pop fly. Like I said, before, bush league at any level.

No place for this, in an organized Baseball game....sandlot, at best.

Regardless of whether it is legal or illegal at whatever level, plays like that are one thing.....bush league. What you are telling your kids when you resort to plays like that is "we can't beat the other team straight up." That's the reason you won't see that kind of stuff when you watch the CWS or MLB this week.

Didn't Miami pull the "fake overthrow" in the CWS years ago????

Didn't Miami pull the "fake overthrow" in the CWS years ago????

 

Yes.

Not that I agree with this play; but, it's pretty standard stuff and taught at all levels ...ie:

~ runner on first attempts steal of second, line drive hit to outfield...second bsman fakes fielding a ground ball in an attempt to keep runner sliding into second and not going to third;

~ runners on 1st and 3rd; runner goes; throw to second; second basman is covering steal; ss steps in front of 2nd and fains a catch and throw to home but allows ball to proceed to second thereby keeping third close and attempting to relax stealing runner..

~ runner on first goes, ball is hit, ss looks skyward in an apparent attempt to find a fly ball....

there are many other examples and these are MLB examples....where's the line and what do the rules actually say ....

Not that I agree with this play; but, it's pretty standard stuff and taught at all levels ...ie:

~ runner on first attempts steal of second, line drive hit to outfield...second bsman fakes fielding a ground ball in an attempt to keep runner sliding into second and not going to third;

~ runners on 1st and 3rd; runner goes; throw to second; second basman is covering steal; ss steps in front of 2nd and fains a catch and throw to home but allows ball to proceed to second thereby keeping third close and attempting to relax stealing runner..

~ runner on first goes, ball is hit, ss looks skyward in an apparent attempt to find a fly ball....

there are many other examples and these are MLB examples....where's the line and what do the rules actually say ....

 

FED(high school) rules prevent some of the above. I'd guess your first example is illegal. The 2nd would almost be impossible to call. The third would be impossible to call.

I checked into the examples, JLMP, and all are legal. No fake tags, no verbal obstruction. All appear good.

 

As long as no one is yelling "foul" or "pop up" like in the original example, its all good.