Quote:
Originally Posted by luvthegame
Batters love to have a spot on the ball. It helps identify spin or rotation. That is not the reason.
I have been told by MLB umpires that when a pitch hits the dirt...there is a high probability that the leather is scuffed, broken or torn. Therefore, advantage to pitchers who can utilize this. Ball out of play.
"Supposedly" a batted ball does not cause the same effect.
But to go a whole inning....is unusual.  |
Glad you said supposedly since the ball off the bat is often faster and with more spin that a pitch. And the dirt in the infield is usually not kept as soft as that around the plate.
I can tell you that the hide doesn't know the difference, nor have I ever seen leather "broken". Even a hide as tough as bison or waterbuffalo, that gets extremely dry and rigid after processing will bend when forced.
Another note, it is usually the catcher asking for a replacement when the pitch is in the dirt, without prompting from the batter OR umpire.
But is makes no difference, if the ball is damaged, get rid of it.