Ball Four, in the dirt

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by 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?

August 23, 1974, 5th inning

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!

Everyone is relaxed at this point. It's not LL -- the chances of a baserunner (especially the BR) advancing here are less than .001%.

It's much the same as a coach requesting and being granted time to go out to the pitcher just after ball 4.