Quote:
Originally posted by gsf23
In the situation Lark is talking about, Mike, the umpires don't handle the balls. Each team hits their own balls. If one of your hitters hits a ball out of play, then your team throws in ball, not the umpire. I've seen this done quite a bit at tourneys to cut down on the costs. Generally most teams will try hard to retrieve their own balls.
In the tourneys we have played in, we were allowed to change balls during any dead ball.
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Yes, and I have worked some of those tournaments early in my ASA career and will never work them again. Games take way too long. Players don't want to retrieve balls as quick as they put them out of play.
I would also add that there is a fair amount of liability by not allowing the umpire handle the balls. Get a ball in the game exceeds permitted production limits and a pitcher take a shot off the head and see how long it takes for the lawsuit.
Nope, if I'm working a game, I'm handling the balls. If they don't want to hit what comes out of the bag, oh well...