re: what was that ball 4 pick off call..

quote:

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would the 2nd base umpire have called Snik OUT if the ball had beat him to the base? notice on the replay that the 3rd base umpire comes across and tells the 2nd base ump, "that was ball 4"; ss cannot bait the runner on an awarded base

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The SS/2B wasn't baiting the runner. He was covering the bag and making a play, just like he would have done had it been called strike three. From the time the ball/strike call is made to the throw from the catcher reaching 2nd base, you're talking roughly 2 seconds ... to expect everyone to realize it's ball four and drop what they're doing is ridiculous. It's up to the runner to understand the situation and not overslide the bag, period, whether it would have been strike three or ball four.