[hole_n_one]

The ball is not in play until the batter puts it in play dumbass.

Rule 5.02.....

5.02 After the umpire calls “Play” the ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until for legal cause, or at the umpire’s call of “Time” suspending play, the ball becomes dead. While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to a balk, an overthrow, interference, or a home run or other fair ball hit out of the playing field).

[hole_n_one]

Official Rules: 5.00 Putting the Ball in Play. Live Ball

[ReaganÜberAlles]

A mere. legalistic technicality cited by an anal retentive idiot.

Everyone knows the common baseball phrase: “and the batter puts the ball in play” and everyone understands the concept.

Now don’t you have a slide rule to polish somewhere?