Interesting Dilemma

[BoomerSooner]

Originally Posted by pob14

If we're playing it that way . . . what rule requires the pitcher to wear a glove?

That was actually the solution I was prepared to suggest if it came to to it. I'm actually serving as an assistant coach for this team, which is where the comical back story that I mentioned in the OP comes into play.

I've really scaled back the amount of games I call over the last couple of years so I could coach my son and enjoy the quality time with him before he gets to the point of playing school ball. In any case, knowing the rule, I brought this up with "mitt only" boy's father during practice before the season. I let him know that his son would only be able to play catcher or first base with his mitt. Otherwise, he would need a glove. I then had to explain the difference between a glove and a mitt, and finally I had to do my best to control my sarcastic wit when he asked me if that was "actually in the rules". It took every thing I had to not say, "No, it isn't really a rule, I just make stuff up because I hold the patent on baseball gloves and get a royalty for each one sold".

Our head coach didn't think anyone would have a problem with it, which bugged the part of me that believes in rules/order, but the let them play side of me was fine with this. I did tell him there was a decent chance someone would complain about it though. I also had to restrain the "I told you so" that was running through my head when it happened in just the second game of our season and the first time he played anywhere besides first base.