Baseball on Saturday was weird and here are 5 of the day's strangest moments

Baseball is a weird sport. Think about it for a moment.

Some of the world's best athletes standing in a pile of dirt waving a piece of wood at a circular piece of cowhide, hoping to hit the fast-moving projectile past their leather-glove wearing opponents so they can run 360 feet to score runs for the entertainment of an on-looking audience, usually in the tens of thousands.

This is baseball. It's strange and it's beloved by millions.

But, even the weird can get weirder.

On Saturday, during the third day of regular-season games in MLB, there were a number of things fans don't get to see every day.

From head-scratching managerial moves to electrifying base-running, here are five of Saturday's oddities which are sure to be followed by thousands more as the 162-game season continues.

Gabe Kapler's strange decisions continue

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Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has mentioned more than once how he plans to do things differently this season, and he's certainly sticking to his word. Whether or not that actually benefits the Phillies remains to be seen.

On Saturday, two days after a shaky Opening Day of decision-making by the rookie skipper cost his team a win, Kapler summoned left-handed reliever Hoby Milner into the game against the Atlanta Braves without allowing the pitcher to throw any warm-up pitches in the bullpen.

As Kapler unexpectedly approached the mound to pull struggling starter Vince Velasquez from the game with no reliever ready, Milner sprang into action to try and get loose. He continued to warm up even after Kapler had called for the change.

This predictably annoyed umpire Greg Gibson, who approached the bullpen and forced the reliever into the contest. Milner was docked some of his in-game warm-up tosses and subsequently allowed a run-scoring single to Nick Markakis before getting out of the inning.

Nelson Cruz's run-in with the dugout stairs

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Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz was forced to leave the game against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday because of an incident with some dugout steps.

Two innings after Cruz crushed his second home run of the season, the 37-year-old slipped on the stairs on his way to the batting cages to keep warm, twisting his ankle in the process.

X-rays on the slugger, who is scheduled for an MRI on Sunday, came back negative, but the scare made manager Scott Servais feel a tad ill in the stomach.

Baseball can be confusing

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It's only the third day of the regular season, but things appear to more confusing than they should be for some.

What looked to be a harmless pick-off attempt turned into a head-scratching scenario on Saturday between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals when pitcher Austin Brice tagged out two runners occupying one base.

Brice looked a tad confused as he and his teammates stared at umpire James Hoye waiting for a decision.

The official scoring on this play, for those wondering, was trailing baserunner Brian Goodwin being called out and credited with a caught stealing at second.

Early April Fools?

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April Fools' Day may have peaked its sinful little head a day early on Saturday. Or at least, that's what Brewers general manager David Stearns seems to have thought.

One day after Ryan Braun's three-run home run was responsible for a come-from-behind win over the Padres, his name popped up in an incredibly random trade rumor involving the Dodgers and fellow outfielder Matt Kemp.

Braun's absence from the Brewers' starting lineup against San Diego on Saturday immediately led to speculation that the rumor was true, but Stearns, who doesn't usually comment on trade rumors, called it bogus.

Kevin Pillar, the ultimate base thief

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar is mostly known for his incredible, highlight-reel catches in center field, but on Saturday against the New York Yankees, he was a magical unicorn on the basepaths, stealing second, third, and home in one inning.

"It was a pretty cerebral moment for me," Pillar said, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. "There are a lot of things you dream about doing on the field, as a kid, getting to the big leagues. Stealing home is one of those things. What if the opportunity presents itself? How much adrenaline, how crazy of a play it is. You could definitely feel the energy in the dugout."

The 29-year-old's thievery etched his name into the record books as the first player in Blue Jays history to steal three bases in the same inning.