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Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy

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Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
During the Hiroshima vs. Yomiuri game on August 15, 2007, Carp infielder Koji Yamasaki caught Shinnosuke Abe, the Giants' runner on second, napping by keeping the ball from the last play and tagging him out as he took a few steps to third in anticipation of the next pitch.

Yomiuri's Hara-kantoku protested the out - I think it had something to do with the Hiroshima pitcher stepping on the rubber without the ball. Not sure, though.

There are several clips on YouTube, including here. Watch behind the pitcher at around 1:10 to see the incident. However, we don't get a good view of the pitcher's feet.

Did anyone see if he did toe the rubber sans ball or not?
Comments
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: NipponHam11 | Posted: Aug 18, 2007 6:01 AM | SFT Fan ]

The pitcher didn't toe the rubber from what I saw (which still isn't much). Great play to try and get a runner out, and it worked.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: torakichi | Posted: Aug 18, 2007 8:26 PM | HT Fan ]

- Great play to try and get a runner out, and it worked.

I guess I can see how some might think it's a bit of a dirty trick. But still, if you're the last-place Carp playing the league-leading Giants, I guess you could be forgiven for doing whatever you can to win.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: BigManZam | Posted: Aug 19, 2007 11:21 AM | CLM Fan ]

Usually I would say that this is breaking an unwritten code in baseball of showing another player up. (See A-Rod yelling, "I got it!" at a Blue Jays player earlier this year for an example.) Since this is against the Giants, though, it's fair game. Daisuke Motoki was famous for trying to do this whenever he could.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: torakichi | Posted: Aug 19, 2007 5:43 PM | HT Fan ]

- Daisuke Motoki was famous for trying to do this whenever he could.

Sorry to take my own thread off topic, but this reminded me of a hilarious comment by a Tigers-fan friend of mine some years ago.

I used to subscribe to the Daily Yomiuri. This came up in conversation a few years ago, and my mate was outraged. "Don't buy that paper! You know you're only paying for Motoki's tires!"

Mmm, okay, maybe you had to be there.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: ExitMoose | Posted: Aug 21, 2007 9:53 AM | HT Fan ]

I don't think I've ever seen this play outside of a movie. It reminds me of that scene from Major League, where the pitcher fakes a bad throw to first.

Can't find it on YouTube, sadly.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Aug 28, 2007 7:35 AM | HAN Fan ]

Hiroshima produced a T-shirt commemorating the event. In red with a white slogan it said something like "Keep your eye on the baseball." Unfortunately it is now sold out.
Re: Yamasaki Tricks Abe with the Ol' Hidden Ball Ploy
[ Author: Guest: JR | Posted: Sep 2, 2007 9:21 AM ]

Although it didn't happen in NPB, we need to honor Yamasaki with the anniversary of the best hidden ball trick ever: Tater Toss [Yahoo! Sports - in English]
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