Balk or Illegal Pitch

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by abergman

Thought of this one yesterday in my American Legion Game. Pitcher licked his fingers in the circle so my partner said,"That's a ball went to his mouth".

IMO, this is one of those Nit-Pick'n rules, that I don't enforce unless one of the coaches complains. Most of us do not umprie at the major league level, where F1 could throw the "spitter" and make the ball move more than it's supposed to.

In most leagues that we umpire, we probably get 3 / 4 new balls tops. By the time we get to the 5th inning, there's scuff marks, dirt, mud etc. all over the ball, and we are worrying about F1 going to his mouth.

Unless your umpiring a league that supplies a steady diet of brand new baseballs, I say do not go "looking for boogers".

The rule was put in for PRO Pitchers who can do "tricks" with a baseball.

Pete Booth