Ball Four, in the dirt

[David Emerling]

First of all, when did it become common practice in MLB to get a new baseball every time a ball touches the ground? I find this an annoying ritual. No matter how slight, a new baseball comes into play. It just seems kind of silly to me.

Here is something that I noticed the other day while watching an MLB game - and it happened twice in the same game. Who knows how many times this has occurred without my notice?

Ball four is in the dirt but caught cleanly by the catcher. The batter trots off to first base as the catcher hands the ball to the PU who exchanges it for a new ball.

Huh?

The ball is live and in play! We have a baserunner!

What happens if the catcher's throw back to the pitcher is wild and the batter-runner tries to make a break for 2nd? Is it possible he can be thrown out by a different baseball than the one that initiated the play? Or - is the ball dead, precluding the batter-runner from attempting to advance to 2nd? Worse yet, what if the umpire's throw back to the pitcher is wild?

In a game earlier in the week, with runners on base, a pitcher decides he doesn't like the baseball and tosses the one in his hand toward the ballboy stationed near the dugout. The pitcher was about 20-feet from the mound at the time. The umpire calls him for a balk! (I assume the PU interpreted it as a delivery without being in contact with the rubber. He killed the ball - but I don't know why he did that.)

Something seems wrong to me with all this baseball exchanging.

Any opinions?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[seans]

I don't think a balk was called, the pitcher thought time had been called and threw the ball in the dugout, and if I remember correctly the runner on 1b was awarded 3b.

[RPatrino]

I can't say when it became standard practice, but I suspect a major league pitcher worth his salt can do nasty things with a dirty baseball. Besides, they have 100 of them to use, why not use them all.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I can't say when it became standard practice, but I suspect a major league pitcher worth his salt can do nasty things with a dirty baseball. Besides, they have 100 of them to use, why not use them all.

You just KNOW the ball cannot possibly be all scuffed up in most of the instances when they replace it.

[RPatrino]

All it takes is one small blemish, scuff or cut. Those dastardly pitchers don't need any more help, they will use any advantage they can get...

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

All it takes is one small blemish, scuff or cut. Those dastardly pitchers don't need any more help, they will use any advantage they can get...

Ohhhh - so that explains the greatness of Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax. They had the advantage of scuffed baseballs. Because I know they didn't swap baseballs out like that in those days.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by seans

I don't think a balk was called, the pitcher thought time had been called and threw the ball in the dugout, and if I remember correctly the runner on 1b was awarded 3b.

That makes more sense. I just saw it briefly on TV and I think the announcer said a "balk" had been called. He was probably wrong, though.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

That makes more sense. I just saw it briefly on TV and I think the announcer said a "balk" had been called. He was probably wrong, though.

Yes, the announcer was wrong. It was an award for a fielder (F1 off the rubber) throwing the ball out of play.

As far as exchanging baseballs, this has been a practice for a long time. RPatrino hit the nail on the head when he said that anything on the ball can be an advantage to these pitchers. Also, we are used to working with filthy baseballs whereas MLB can afford to keep a nice clean ball in play.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Or - is the ball dead, precluding the batter-runner from attempting to advance to 2nd?

Oh gosh, I can't believe the umpires are stopping the BR from trying for second on a walk...what are they thinking???

Are you really asking these questions Memphis? The ball is dead when the umpire examines it. The ball isn't going to become live when the umpire throws a new ball to the pitcher.

[DG]

They are supposed to start a game with 6 dozen rubbed up baseballs. So if they can toss them out for hitting the dirt and get by with 6 dozen then fine. I always assumed those are being put in a ball bag so PU can inspect late in the game if the 6 dozen is getting low.

[bobbybanaduck]

they use a lot more than 6 dozen. i rubbed 7 in A ball. as far as checking the ball each time it hits the dirt goes...you have to. it's not dirt, it's clay; and it's hard. the balls not only get scuffed, they get cut. it doesn't happen every time it hits, but it happens enough that it has to be checked every time it does.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

they use a lot more than 6 dozen. i rubbed 7 in A ball. as far as checking the ball each time it hits the dirt goes...you have to. it's not dirt, it's clay; and it's hard. the balls not only get scuffed, they get cut. it doesn't happen every time it hits, but it happens enough that it has to be checked every time it does.

This must be a great revelation, then. Does today's, modern field have some super-abrasive additive that did not exist a decade ago? Because I have been watching MLB all my life and I never recall the ball-switching mania like that which exists today.

Oh sure, if the ball is drilled into the ground - I understand that. But they swap it out for the most innocuous touch of the ground. Hell, I think they're swapping it out if only the catcher's glove touches the ground while catching the pitch. They swap it out if it might have touched the ground.

MLB seemed so focused on cutting down the length of the games. How 'bout not switching baseballs every time it just ticks the turf? I'd bet that would shave a few minutes off the game - especially when you factor in how the pitcher tends to rub up each new ball before the next delivery.

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

This must be a great revelation, then. Does today's, modern field have some super-abrasive additive that did not exist a decade ago? Because I have been watching MLB all my life and I never recall the ball-switching mania like that which exists today.

Oh sure, if the ball is drilled into the ground - I understand that. But they swap it out for the most innocuous touch of the ground. Hell, I think they're swapping it out if only the catcher's glove touches the ground while catching the pitch. They swap it out if it might have touched the ground.

MLB seemed so focused on cutting down the length of the games. How 'bout not switching baseballs every time it just ticks the turf? I'd bet that would shave a few minutes off the game - especially when you factor in how the pitcher tends to rub up each new ball before the next delivery.

if you want to go the sarcasm route with me, i'm game, sir. but, before we delve into that, are you fully prepared to contend that TODAY'S game is the same as the game was a DECADE ago? times change. the game changes. they don't want scuffed balls now, and, with people paying a ridiculous sum of money to watch, they have the loot to be able to provide a "perfect" ball for just about every pitch. it is what it is.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by LDUB

Oh gosh, I can't believe the umpires are stopping the BR from trying for second on a walk...what are they thinking???

Are you really asking these questions Memphis? The ball is dead when the umpire examines it. The ball isn't going to become live when the umpire throws a new ball to the pitcher.

Naturally I was being facetious about the ball being live when the umpire throws it back. Geez - give me a little credit.

What if there was a runner on 3rd during the ball-in-the-dirt walk? Killing the ball takes away a seldom used, but viable, tactic of the runner continuing after the walk. That would probably never occur in a MLB game - but I've seen it numerous times in HS.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Ball four is in the dirt but caught cleanly by the catcher. The batter trots off to first base as the catcher hands the ball to the PU who exchanges it for a new ball.

Huh?

The ball is live and in play! We have a baserunner!

What happens if the catcher's throw back to the pitcher is wild and the batter-runner tries to make a break for 2nd? Is it possible he can be thrown out by a different baseball than the one that initiated the play? Or - is the ball dead, precluding the batter-runner from attempting to advance to 2nd? Worse yet, what if the umpire's throw back to the pitcher is wild?

YGTBSM!

This has to at least tie, wouldn't you people say?