Comments on: The trick “Rainbow Play” http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/ Baseball, Cheating, and Rules discussion at the author's blog for the Cheater's Guide to Baseball Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:29:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: dave grosky http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-1087 dave grosky Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:31:26 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-1087 The game of baseball has many many rules, and many of them are to keep the game as fair as possible. The spirit of the game is the integrity! Remember it is not whether you win or lose it is how you played the game.Running a trick play is cheating you may have gotten away with it, but the pure satisfaction of a win by playing as hard as possible and playing the game with fairness is lost. This play is the same as the fielder pretending to catch the ball to get the runner to slide, or the first basemen holding the ball and the pitcher pretend to have it.It is all the same to trick,double-cross,deceive or mislead. I would have stopped the game calling 'time out" then called the runner out and then turned and called the batter out, and last but not least turned to you coach and yelled, "AND YOU COACH YOUR OUT OF HERE TOO" DAVE UMPIRE DIST.23 The game of baseball has many many rules, and many of them are to keep the game as fair as possible. The spirit of the game is the integrity! Remember it is not whether you win or lose it is how you played the game.Running a trick play is cheating you may have gotten away with it, but the pure satisfaction of a win by playing as hard as possible and playing the game with fairness is lost. This play is the same as the fielder pretending to catch the ball to get the runner to slide, or the first basemen holding the ball and the pitcher pretend to have it.It is all the same to trick,double-cross,deceive or mislead. I would have stopped the game calling ‘time out” then called the runner out and then turned and called the batter out, and last but not least turned to you coach and yelled, “AND YOU COACH YOUR OUT OF HERE TOO”

DAVE
UMPIRE DIST.23

]]> By: Lou http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-870 Lou Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:55:39 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-870 Note to Nick: The rainbow play might not be a violation of the rules, but it is unethical and goes against the spirit of the game of baseball. I have an idea for you: Instead of tricking your opponent or disrespecting your opponent to gain an advantage, try training your pitchers to conduct pickoff moves properly, teaching your catchers to have efficient deliveries to second base, etc. You claim in the Arizona Daily Star article that you ran the play out of respect for the opposing player. Hardly. I am certain the opposing player and team felt disrespected as a result of this play. I feel sorry for the young men who are learning unethical behavior from you. The messages you are sending are as follows: 1) The end justifies the means. 2) If you have not honed your craft well enough, find an easy way out (instead of putting your nose to the grindstone to improve). I hope others in your players' lives are teaching them the difference between right and wrong. Note to Nick:

The rainbow play might not be a violation of the rules, but it is unethical and goes against the spirit of the game of baseball.

I have an idea for you: Instead of tricking your opponent or disrespecting your opponent to gain an advantage, try training your pitchers to conduct pickoff moves properly, teaching your catchers to have efficient deliveries to second base, etc.

You claim in the Arizona Daily Star article that you ran the play out of respect for the opposing player. Hardly. I am certain the opposing player and team felt disrespected as a result of this play.

I feel sorry for the young men who are learning unethical behavior from you. The messages you are sending are as follows:

1) The end justifies the means.
2) If you have not honed your craft well enough, find an easy way out (instead of putting your nose to the grindstone to improve).

I hope others in your players’ lives are teaching them the difference between right and wrong.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-858 Aaron Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:14:43 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-858 this posting is almost a month after the coaches "Nick" posting, but here goes. Sorry coach, but the play is still illegal. The play DOES apply to Rule 2.22.1 The case book say "get back get back," but that is an example of what can occur. If the case book listed every thing that could be said in that situation, the book would be a hundred pages long just on that one rule. So there is no difference in what the case book gives as an example and what your team did. You have been able to get away with the play twice. The umpires who worked your games did not understand the rule (and I am not being critical of the umpires, they are doing the best they can esp considering the pay they get). I am not saying you were teaching your players to cheat. I think you were looking for an advantage, which every coach would and should do. But it is illegal and you shouldn't have been able to get away with it, let alone twice. this posting is almost a month after the coaches “Nick” posting, but here goes.

Sorry coach, but the play is still illegal. The play DOES apply to Rule 2.22.1 The case book say “get back get back,” but that is an example of what can occur. If the case book listed every thing that could be said in that situation, the book would be a hundred pages long just on that one rule. So there is no difference in what the case book gives as an example and what your team did.
You have been able to get away with the play twice. The umpires who worked your games did not understand the rule (and I am not being critical of the umpires, they are doing the best they can esp considering the pay they get).

I am not saying you were teaching your players to cheat. I think you were looking for an advantage, which every coach would and should do. But it is illegal and you shouldn’t have been able to get away with it, let alone twice.

]]> By: Mike http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-829 Mike Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:59:51 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-829 That one brings back some memories. We ran it when I was on JV in high school (about 10yrs ago) since our catcher had a horrible arm so he had no chance to throw someone out. We also tapped an aluminum bat against the fence post for added effect. Double squeeze is a pretty good one. We ran it twice (both successful), however, it was overturned once since it nearly caused a riot in a road game. A 2 man ump crew will almost never catch that if its done properly. That one brings back some memories. We ran it when I was on JV in high school (about 10yrs ago) since our catcher had a horrible arm so he had no chance to throw someone out. We also tapped an aluminum bat against the fence post for added effect. Double squeeze is a pretty good one. We ran it twice (both successful), however, it was overturned once since it nearly caused a riot in a road game. A 2 man ump crew will almost never catch that if its done properly.

]]> By: Nick http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-828 Nick Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:25:48 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-828 I'm the head coach of the team that ran the play...and by the way I love the coverage in SI, thanks!! The play does not apply to Rule 2.22.1 in the Case Book. Yes the exact play is described but there is one major difference. Our fielders do not say "get back, get back", they say "Ball, Ball, Ball". There is nothing that says you can't call for the ball when it is thrown to you from the catcher...we just put a little air under it. So Steve, I appreciate your efforts but you had to be there. Is the play cheating? No, it is taking advantage of an aggressive baserunner. If we had said "get back, get back" like the rule book says, I would consider that cheating. I don't teach my kids to break the rules, but I certainly teach them to take advantage of their opponents. How do you defend the play? Look in for the ball after a few steps. By the way, we ran the play against our arch rival and ended up beating them 10-2 for the first win against them in our young school's history. We also ran the play against Pinnacle High in the first round of the State Playoffs en route to a 12-3 win. It's the sweetest play I've ever seen. I’m the head coach of the team that ran the play…and by the way I love the coverage in SI, thanks!! The play does not apply to Rule 2.22.1 in the Case Book. Yes the exact play is described but there is one major difference. Our fielders do not say “get back, get back”, they say “Ball, Ball, Ball”. There is nothing that says you can’t call for the ball when it is thrown to you from the catcher…we just put a little air under it. So Steve, I appreciate your efforts but you had to be there.
Is the play cheating? No, it is taking advantage of an aggressive baserunner. If we had said “get back, get back” like the rule book says, I would consider that cheating. I don’t teach my kids to break the rules, but I certainly teach them to take advantage of their opponents. How do you defend the play? Look in for the ball after a few steps.
By the way, we ran the play against our arch rival and ended up beating them 10-2 for the first win against them in our young school’s history. We also ran the play against Pinnacle High in the first round of the State Playoffs en route to a 12-3 win. It’s the sweetest play I’ve ever seen.

]]> By: Steve http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-713 Steve Sun, 06 May 2007 17:25:58 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-713 Just to provide documentation on this play for you, here is the citation from the 2007 NFHS Case book: Obstruction 2.22.1 Situation A: R1 attempts to steal second. F2, upon receiving the pitch, throws a pop-up to F6. F5 yells “get back, get back.” R1 thinks B2 has hit a pop-up and starts back to first where he is tagged out. RULING: This is verbal obstruction and R1 shall be awarded second base. The play is legal under MLB rules, but not in High School. (This post is not to belabor the point, but rather to provide documentation for future reference. Quite simply, the umpires blew this call.) Just to provide documentation on this play for you, here is the citation from the 2007 NFHS Case book:

Obstruction 2.22.1 Situation A: R1 attempts to steal second. F2, upon receiving the pitch, throws a pop-up to F6. F5 yells “get back, get back.” R1 thinks B2 has hit a pop-up and starts back to first where he is tagged out. RULING: This is verbal obstruction and R1 shall be awarded second base.

The play is legal under MLB rules, but not in High School.

(This post is not to belabor the point, but rather to provide documentation for future reference. Quite simply, the umpires blew this call.)

]]> By: DMZ http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-711 DMZ Sun, 06 May 2007 04:23:59 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-711 I didn't realize there was an applicable rule in high school that covered that. My fault. I didn’t realize there was an applicable rule in high school that covered that. My fault.

]]> By: Steve http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-710 Steve Sun, 06 May 2007 03:52:39 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-710 <i>It’s not breaking the rules,.... </i> Actually it is against the rules. NFHS rules specifically call for officials to enforce "verbal obstruction." The unpires blew this one in applying MLB rules to a high school game. It’s not breaking the rules,….

Actually it is against the rules. NFHS rules specifically call for officials to enforce “verbal obstruction.”

The unpires blew this one in applying MLB rules to a high school game.

]]> By: DMZ http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-706 DMZ Sat, 05 May 2007 01:25:32 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-706 It's not breaking the rules, but in the book I cover everything from legal trickery and groundskeeping to game-fixing, so I'm writing about all that here, too. It’s not breaking the rules, but in the book I cover everything from legal trickery and groundskeeping to game-fixing, so I’m writing about all that here, too.

]]> By: KEN http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-705 KEN Fri, 04 May 2007 23:13:57 +0000 http://www.cheatersguidetobaseball.com/2007/05/03/the-trick-rainbow-play/#comment-705 This is trickery, but is it cheating? I.e., does it violate anything in the rulebook? This is trickery, but is it cheating? I.e., does it violate anything in the rulebook?

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