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http://baseballrubbingmud.com/ |
I love it when the pitcher is the one asking for a replacement ball, when, if they knew how to throw it, would give them some crazy movement. I was working a NAIA game, the pitcher asks for a new ball. I check out the ball and there was a large bump on the laces. This bump was larger than a pea and the laces were still intact. Talk about getting extra grip and spin. During the half inning, I see the pitching coach, who is a former minor league pitcher. I ask him what he is teaching these guys and say that his pitcher didn't like this ball. After I gave the ball to him, he just looked at it and laughed.
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Back some time ago but not the dark ages, this was not a commercially available product. Only MLB clubs could buy this. I believe I read that the minor league guys had to get the MLBU to get some from the can for them during Spring Training so they could use it during their season. If the minor league guys could not get the MLB mud in Spring training, I imagine they had to use whatever mud or dirt was available at the parks they worked, since the Big League clubs may not have supplied their minor league counterparts. The umps may have even had to dig a little for some, put it in a can and add some water. |
Little things like this are some of what gives baseball all the alure it has IMO. It's the best game.
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Reminds me of a clip I saw a few years ago. A MLB Umpire was talking to some fans. He gave the little boy a ball and said " Here, it's brand new, we make em dirty on purpose"
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I have started getting that ball before the game begins if the pitcher has finished his warm-ups. |
I think a few years ago TWIB did a short piece on spitballs and several MLB guys said there are so very few pitchers who would even know what to do with a spitball or a scuff. Some pitcher mentioned that when he first grabs the ball if it doesn't feel absolutely right, he sends it back because he doesn't know how it will effect his pitches and a ball having spit, a scuff or anything else is probably a dis-advantage to pitchers.
Going to what Kevin said if he can teach a pitcher what to do with a scuff he'd have a huge advantage for most of his career, because all the way up to college baseballs are a valued commodity and you often have to make due with less than perfect. |
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