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