What is signaled by the plate umpire to indicate that the ball is dead?

The plate umpire signals that the ball is dead immediately to indicate a break in play due to various reasons such as a foul ball, a player being injured, or a situation that necessitates stopping the game. When the ball is declared dead, it means that no action can be taken until the umpire signals it to be live again. This is crucial for maintaining the structure of the game and ensuring that all players and coaches understand that play has stopped and that they cannot advance or make plays during this period.

In contrast, options that suggest the ball remains live, or that it is a delayed dead ball, do not reflect the immediate cessation of play signified by the umpire's signal for a dead ball. Similarly, stating that the game is suspended does not accurately capture the nature of the dead ball call, as suspending a game typically implies a longer-term pause rather than the temporary halt that a dead ball represents.