Ball Four, in the dirt

[Kevin Finnerty]

My son's a pitcher. Now that he's in college, the scuffs, cuts and mud packed in a seam all work much better with the higher speeds and better arm action of an older player.

He lives on the sinker, cutter and change-up (a splitter). When a guy chops a ball in front of the plate, and my son gets to keep using the same ball, I watch him check it, and if he notices that there's mud or dirt packed in the seam, he throws nothing but two-seamers, and they drop like stones. If there's a tear on a ball, if he wants it to break left, he positions the tear on the right, and vice-versa.

He never tears, scuffs or packs a ball, but if the umpire fails to check it or discard it, he just uses it. (I've almost never seen him ask for a different ball.) I learned that where-to-hold-the-tear-or-scuff thing from Don McMahon, an ex-MLB fireballing reliever, who used to coach for the Dodgers.

[realistic]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

My son's a pitcher. Now that he's in college, the scuffs, cuts and mud packed in a seam all work much better with the higher speeds and better arm action of an older player.

He lives on the sinker, cutter and change-up (a splitter). When a guy chops a ball in front of the plate, and my son gets to keep using the same ball, I watch him check it, and if he notices that there's mud or dirt packed in the seam, he throws nothing but two-seamers, and they drop like stones. If there's a tear on a ball, if he wants it to break left, he positions the tear on the right, and vice-versa.

He never tears, scuffs or packs a ball, but if the umpire fails to check it or discard it, he just uses it. (I've almost never seen him ask for a different ball.) I learned that where-to-hold-the-tear-or-scuff thing from Don McMahon, an ex-MLB fireballing reliever, who used to coach for the Dodgers.

So you are saying that your son is a cheater, nice! And please don't say that if the umpire doesn't catch it, then it's legal cause it's not.

Let him throw one with alot of action with a cut ball(even if he didn't do it) and if someone catches him, he should be ejected because he is cheating. I wouldn't be so proud of a cheating rat.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by realistic

So you are saying that your son is a cheater, nice! And please don't say that if the umpire doesn't catch it, then it's legal cause it's not.

Let him throw one with alot of action with a cut ball(even if he didn't do it) and if someone catches him, he should be ejected because he is cheating. I wouldn't be so proud of a cheating rat.

REALISTIC?!? That's a laugh.

You're judgmental, naive and exceptionally rude. You are far from realistic. You should be ashamed of what you just said about my son. (Cheating rat??) Perhaps you're shameless, also. We'll see.

No, it's not cheating. No, it's not doing anything or applying anything illegal to the baseball. It's about schools with limited budgets using baseballs that you or I wouldn't allow. The umpires don't throw them out because they aren't vigilant or don't have an unlimited supply. The kid uses what he's given and knows how to use it. It's effing gamesmanship and little more.

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by realistic

So you are saying that your son is a cheater, nice!

Hold on big boy. Cheating is strong language. The pitcher is merely using what God has given him. Just because knowing what to do with what you have been given doesn't make you a cheater.

[Kevin Finnerty]

The safety and anonymity of the Internet is essential for certain types of people in order for them to come out and say what they say.

As much as I'd like to see this Realistic guy say those words to mine or my son's face, it would never happen. He's one of those needs-safety-and-anonymity guys.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

The safety and anonymity of the Internet is essential for certain types of people to come out and say what they say.

As much as I'd like to see this Realistic guy say those words to mine or my son's face, it would never happen. He's one of those needs-safety-and-anonymity guys.

Which is why you shouldn't concern yourself one bit with what he said. It was both classless and uncalled for, not to mention quite ignorant and self righteous.


Tim.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Which is why you shouldn't concern yourself one bit with what he said. It was both classless and uncalled for, not to mention quite ignorant and self righteous.


Tim.

Tip of the creased, black cap to you, sir. Thank you.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Manipulating a scuffed or muddy baseball is not prohibited by the rules, so I don't see how that is cheating. Pretty gutless comment, IMO.

And you as well, sir.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by realistic

So you are saying that your son is a cheater, nice! And please don't say that if the umpire doesn't catch it, then it's legal cause it's not.

Let him throw one with alot of action with a cut ball(even if he didn't do it) and if someone catches him, he should be ejected because he is cheating. I wouldn't be so proud of a cheating rat.

Manipulating a scuffed or muddy baseball is not prohibited by the rules, so I don't see how that is cheating. Pretty gutless comment, IMO.