MLB: Miguel Cabrera, the hidden ball trick, and other epic trick plays

Baseball is a game loaded with strategy, which is why so many fans get infuriated when people say it is boring. It’s those little nuances that make the game so special.

Those nuances were on display during the  August 10, 2013 game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roberto Hernandez was on the mound and noticed an opportunity to get Juan Uribe out at third. While Uribe wasn’t paying attention, Hernandez flipped the ball to Evan Longoria who was standing beyond Uribe’s view.

Longoria had the ball in his glove as third-base umpire Angel Hernandez watched. Longoria gently placed his glove on Uribe’s back and as soon as Uribe took his foot off the base, Hernandez called him out.

Longoria’s joy at pulling off the play is apparent. Uribe was later mocked by teammate Yasiel Puig when he presented him with his shoe taped to a base.

Uribe didn’t learn from his mistake and fell victim to a fake trick play a few years later when he was with the Indians. On May 19, 2016, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips tried to fake out Uribe. Again, Uribe wasn’t paying attention and stepped off the base, so Phillips simply pranked him by tagging him before he got back to second.

Uribe was clearly shaken by the prank as he put his hand on his heart, despite laughing at Phillips. Even the umpire was able to get a few laughs in at Uribe’s expense.

Most trick plays take place between the lines, but this iconic “catch” against the Dodgers was pure Hollywood trickery.

One of the strangest trick plays has to be the one that Todd Frazier made against the Dodgers on September 3, 2018. Alex Verdugo hit a pop fly foul near third base. In the speed of the game, Frazier clearly catches the ball, then takes a dive into the stands.

The umpire saw the catch, watched Frazier dive, and called Verdugo out when Frazier showed him he still had the ball.

But, after the game was over and the video was analyzed, it becomes crystal clear that Frazier could have a career in sleight-of-hand tricks after he retires from baseball. It turns out that Frazier didn’t have the foul ball, but actually grabbed child’s rubber ball from the stands and used that to give the umpire the impression that he made the out.

The Mets ended up winning the game and Frazier’s fast hands and quick thinking is now a part of baseball lore.

While Frazier was with the Yankees, he was a victim of a hidden ball trick. In a game against the Blue Jays, he was on second base when Jose Bautista made a catch off of a Jacoby Ellsbury hit to right field. Bautista threw the ball to Ryan Goins at second, who faked the throw to the pitcher as Frazier wasn’t paying attention.

Goins then tagged Frazier as soon as he stepped off the base and then headed for the dugout, much to Frazier’s surprise.

Jose Altuve is known for aggressive base running, but on May 29, 2013, the Rockies called his bluff.

After an intentional walk, Altuve stole second and got to third after J.D. Martinez hit a single. But, the Rockies knew just how to get Altuve. During the next at bat, Martinez stole second. The catcher, Wilin Rosario, faked a throw to get Martinez out and Altuve misread the throw. On his way to steal home, the Rockies got him out, making Altuve look a lot less like the MVP and more like an inexperienced 23-year-old.

Altuve isn’t the only Astros player to be duped by a quick-thinking opponent. In what is one of my favorite trick plays ever, Ian Kinsler intentionally missed an easy pop up. At this time, Colby Rasmus was on first and Tyler White was at the plate. Kinsler clearly knew that Rasmus was the faster of the two and needed to be removed from the bases. If he caught the pop up, Rasmus would stay on first and White would be out.

No one expected Kinsler to “drop” the ball.

By missing the pop up, picking up the ball, and throwing it to Jose Iglesias at second, Rasmus was out. The fielder’s choice was a smart move by Kinsler as Evan Gattis was following White, and he, too, was slow.

Unfortunately, the Tigers did not win the game, but that move cemented Kinsler as a fan favorite.

It’s hard to imagine anyone taking advantage of the Houston Astros as they continue to field one of the best teams in the MLB. But, even the best teams can be duped by trick plays.

There is very little doubt that Miguel Cabrera will become a member of the Hall of Fame. While he’s been slowed by injuries in the last few seasons, he was nothing short of outstanding in his younger years.

He’s entering his 17th season in the MLB and will most likely finish his career with the Detroit Tigers.

He’s always been a threat at the plate, but one at-bat during his early years with the then Florida Marlins proved that he was a hitter like very few others. It’s not every day that a batter gets in on a trick play, but if anyone was going to do it, Cabrera was the guy.

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In a game against the Orioles on June 22, 2006, Todd Williams was working on an intentional walk to Cabrera in the 10th inning. At the time, Hanley Ramirez was on second.

With one out and a runner in scoring position, Cabrera was just too dangerous to let swing. But, Williams’ pitches were just too slow and too close for Cabrera to sit and wait for a walk.

He swung and hit a liner to center field that gave Ramirez room to score. In true Cabrera style, his clutch hit gave the Marlins the go-ahead run.

While Cabrera has had many memorable at-bats, this one has to be near or at the top, simply because it was so unexpected – which is what makes it an offensive trick play.

Unfortunately, the recent rule change that allows managers to intentionally walk batters without having a pitch thrown means that fans will never get to see anyone do what Miggy did that day. Hopefully, the MLB will not change the rules about hidden ball tricks and fake throws, so we can enjoy seeing the smartest of baseball players make entertaining and unexpected trick plays.