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Originally Posted by NDblue
Convince me there'e a difference between what gets on the ball during normal play and what a defensive player puts there on purpose.
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The rule governing substances on the ball specifically refers to a defensive player placing said substances on the ball.
There is no rule in the book about substances getting on the ball during playing action.
Difference enough for you?
Here's an extreme example that illustrates the difference: In between pitches, F6 spits into the dirt near second base. On the next pitch, B1 lines the ball which hops right into the loogie.
Do we both agree that saliva falls into the category of a foreign substance? So, what penalty applies on this play? None, of course, as the substance was not deliberately placed upon the ball by a defensive player.
But you're veering away from the main point here. The crux of the question is what constitutes a foreign substance, not how the substance gets on the ball.