[hole_n_one]

As you know, when the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher after a pitch no one in their right mind would say “the ball is in play”

And when that catcher makes an errant throw back to the pitcher allowing a runner on 3rd to score, I guess you'll continue to say that the ball was never in play.

To limit the "ball in play" condition to simply the act of a hitter hitting the ball is pigeon holing the entire concept..

There are countless scenarios where the ball is in play, runs are scored and outs recorded with a ball not having been hit......

but it always starts with the ball in the pitchers hand.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

To limit the "ball in play" condition to simply the act of a hitter hitting the ball is pigeon holing the entire concept..

There are countless scenarios where the ball is in play, runs are scored and outs recorded with a ball not having been hit……

but it always starts with the ball in the pitchers hand.

As a former softball pitcher I would agree (tho obviously there are differences, in that a softball base runner isn’t permitted to take a lead).

I had occasion to appeal a runner’s having left base too soon before an outfielder had caught a fly ball. That is actually always an appeal play, even if the runner was trying to return to base and didn’t make it back in time. Being then without understanding, I called time out before I threw the ball to the base - and found that I had thereby mooted my right to appeal. Live and learn!

[ReaganÜberAlles]

Nope, see if this helps.

When the ball is being thrown back to the pitcher or being “pitched” to the catcher there is no “play” going on. The ball is “live” yes. But no one would define those two instances in the most commonly used, and accepted, definition as a “play”. Once the batter hits the ball or there is some kind of errant throw by pitcher or catcher than the someone has to make a “play” on the ball.

You are taking a very legalistic and not necessarily accurate view of the use of the word “play” in the baseball code. Many, many, MANY words are found in the “law” that have a definition applied to them there that the overwhelming number of people would not apply to it and they would apply a different definition to it.

In my original, theoretical situation I posted to start this thread the definition of the word “play” is not the one found in the “law” of baseball you cited.