Rubbing baseballs in the dirt, how many do it?

[DG]

I use what they give me. I like to start a game with at least 4 balls in my bags, and each pitcher usually has one. If they send me one still in the plastic I send it back.

[bluezebra]

Originally posted by Tim C
aevans410:

Let me get this straight:

You don't rub down the game balls before the game?

If you don't who does?

I ask this because we have a couple of high schools that rub down the balls before we arrive, we also have a tradition that the base umpire normally rubs down at least some of the game balls AND we have ONE school that does not allow the PU ANY balls (yep, the home coach holds a gamer in his hands and throws it to the pitcher from the bench after a ball leaves the field of play).

[Edited by Tim C on May 4th, 2005 at 08:52 AM]

Coach doesn't ALLOW the PU to hold the game balls. If it was MY game, "Coach, I'll hold the extra game balls." "No, I keep them." Coach, I'll hold the game balls, or you can take a walk back to your office, because you'll no longer be involved in this game."

To permit the home coach to hold the balls, and toss them to the pitchers when necessary, is ridiculous. How do you allow this?

Bob

[GarthB]

Originally posted by Tim C
aevans410:

AND we have ONE school that does not allow the PU ANY balls (yep, the home coach holds a gamer in his hands and throws it to the pitcher from the bench after a ball leaves the field of play).

[Edited by Tim C on May 4th, 2005 at 08:52 AM]

Whoa...talk about a control freak. Is he from Texas?

[bigwes68]

I've let a coach hold on to the baseballs once...and that was only because the field was wet (but playable) and we were having to throw out a new ball just about every other pitch. The coach had a towel and was doing his best to keep the baseballs dry. I'd rather hold onto them, but it was a matter of necessity and convenience for the coach to take care of them in this game.

Of course, this was the same game that ended up with a 15-14 score (I rang up a kid on a 3-2 count with the tying run at third and and the bases loaded to end the game), lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes, and my partner didn't show up so I ended up doing the game by myself. Plus, it rained intermittently throughout the game. The ultimate game from down below.

[Tim C]

"How do you allow this?"

Bob,

Because that is the way it is . . .

That is the simple answer -- it is more complicated than that.

Our Association (the largest in Oregon) has selected to not pick this as a battle.

When working inter-city schools we see many, many odd things.

Since I have not worked the dish at this school since this new coach took over (2 years ago) I have no control over what happens at the plate.

Again you are a much more "straight laced" umpire than I am.

We're just different I guess.

[TBBlue]

The only issue I see with the home coach routinely controlling the game balls is the bottom of the 7th, and a close game, when the beautiful pearl finds its way onto the field. Other than that, who cares?

[DownTownTonyBrown]

I guess you would have to assume that all the other balls he throws out are EQUAL???

Does he have two separate buckets for balls? A loaded set with good seams and a bucket of crap balls?

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Originally posted by largeone59

hehehehe......



hahaha i know, i'm childish.

We're talking about rubbing balls and then your moniker shows up! My! My! that is a large...