This Runner Might Be the Dumbest Baseball Player to Ever Play the Game
The Frisco RoughRiders executed one of the best "plays" in baseball yesterday: the hidden ball trick. Honestly, I don't think this even rises to the level of an official hidden ball trick, because the first baseman never pretends to throw the ball back to the pitcher. He either just got lucky or, more likely, knew he had the dumbest baserunner in the history of the game at first.
To get fooled on a hidden ball trick after a pickoff when you see the first baseman at least make the throwing motion back to the pitcher is one thing — though still not a great look. But all that happened here was the first baseman calmly walked back to the bag with the ball, politely asked the runner to move his foot off the base so he could sweep some dirt and then made the easiest putout he's probably ever had in his life.
The runner and first base coach were the only guys on the field who didn't know what was about to happen — probably because they were having a little pow wow over there for a single. Even the umpire saw it coming from a mile away and jogged over to be in position when this guy got baited.
Gotta keep your head on a swivel while the ball's in play, kid.