[ronald]

2002-3 case book. Someone with current book, please verify.

F5 rubs dirt on the ball and then gives it to the pitcher to pitch.

Ruling: Umpires should use discretion in the determination of "foreign substances". Once the pitcher has the ball with the foreign substance near the pitcher's plate, an illegal pitch should be called.

Anyone have a ASA reference that is cut and dried about rubbing dirt cuz the above can be read more than one way.

Do the words "the foreign substance" in the ruling refer to the stem (dirt) or to a determination by the umpire that a foreign substance has been used?

Mike can you get this play cleaned up at your next meeting in OKL city?

Thus, using my discretion, wiping sweat off the eyebrow or forehead is not getting an IP from me.

Thanks, Ron