[[[ 5.11 After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls "Play." The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his
possession. ]]]
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So, if time has been called, a pitcher cannot be charged with a Balk for any infraction that occurs priot to the pitcher stepping on the rubber with a ball in his possession AND the umpire calling 'Play' when he deems that all players on the fierld are ready to resume play. Nor can any runner be put out, nor advance any base, prior to such occurrence.
Having said that, it seems that Time is not necessarilty called just because the defense has a conference. Presumably, defensive players can meet for a conference on the field WITHOUT calling time, and I don't think the umpire is obliged to call time in such a case, on his own discretion. So, a runner can run from one base to the next during a conference on the mound, IF the defense has not bothered to ask for Time before conferring. And any player holding the ball can throw it to any base in such an event, provided it is not the pitcher with his foot on the rubber who is doing so.
Calling Time is an important protocal in baseball. Calling Time freezes the game, and then requires everyone to resume a last legal position to restart. That is, all runners at their correct bases, defense in proper alignment, batter ready to bat, and pitcher on the rubber with a ball. Nothing can be done by either team to gain an advantage while Time is called.
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