The Hidden Ball Trick
Shane Davis from Winter Haven, FL asks:
Can a pitcher go to mound without the ball as long as he doesn't step on the pitching rubber? The 1st baseman would be holding the ball to try to tag out a runner stepping off base.
The pitcher can go to the mound without the ball as long as he does not stand on, or astride of, the rubber and does not pretend to pitch to the batter.
Answered by: Jonathan Bravo
Keywords: Pitcher, MLB Rule 8.05(i)