Ruling???

[IRISHMAFIA]

Top of each inning, the pitcher comes out and covers the pitcher's plate with dirt.

Do you do anything about that or leave it alone as long as you are satisfied the pitcher is keeping contact with the PP?

[Steve M]

I've got nothing on this. BU has brushed the pitcher's plate at each end of a half inning. Pitchers landscape - all the time, at every level. I see this as the same thing.

More frequently than this, I see the defense gather 'round the pitcher and they all see to kick dirt.

As long as the pitcher makes me belive she's in contact, I've got no problem with whether there's dirt on the pitcher's plate or not.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Steve M

I've got nothing on this. BU has brushed the pitcher's plate at each end of a half inning. Pitchers landscape - all the time, at every level. I see this as the same thing.

More frequently than this, I see the defense gather 'round the pitcher and they all see to kick dirt.

As long as the pitcher makes me belive she's in contact, I've got no problem with whether there's dirt on the pitcher's plate or not.

Agreed....without the exact wording in front of me, the only rule I could think of that would even remotely apply is the NCAA and FED rule about deliberately erasing lines on the playing field.

Mighty looooooooooong stretch to apply that here!

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Andy

Agreed....without the exact wording in front of me, the only rule I could think of that would even remotely apply is the NCAA and FED rule about deliberately erasing lines on the playing field.

Mighty looooooooooong stretch to apply that here!

Well, you could always draw a line around the plate after you brush it off!

I wouldn't call any infraction with the pitcher covering the plate, but if I beleived it was to desguise an infraction (24" width or not being in contact), I might just have to "judge" the plate to be just a smidge on the small side.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Steve M

I've got nothing on this. BU has brushed the pitcher's plate at each end of a half inning. Pitchers landscape - all the time, at every level. I see this as the same thing.

More frequently than this, I see the defense gather 'round the pitcher and they all see to kick dirt.

As long as the pitcher makes me belive she's in contact, I've got no problem with whether there's dirt on the pitcher's plate or not.

Ditto. If I've cleaned the PP, I've done my job. Now, if the pitcher chooses to cover the PP, I don't have a problem with that, but the pitcher better make me believe there are no violations occuring. If I think that there are (and I'm not going to look any harder than normal), I certainly will not be giving the pitcher the benefit of the doubt after deliberately covering the PP with dirt.

[mick]

Why is the pitcher's plate brushed ?
Thanks.
mick

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by mick

Why is the pitcher's plate brushed ?
Thanks.
mick

So the BU can be evaluated on mechanics.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

So the BU can be evaluated on mechanics.

got that right, thats the ONLY reason.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by mick

Why is the pitcher's plate brushed ?
Thanks.
mick

Lunacy

I'll do it if Im in C, but most of the time just wipe the dirt off with my shoe, as opposed to bending all the way down to clean off something that will be covered in dirt before warm ups are over.

I will admit to being pretty anal about making sure home plate is clean though. Pitchers plate I dont really give a rats *** about as long as I can tell where its at.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Ditto. If I've cleaned the PP, I've done my job. Now, if the pitcher chooses to cover the PP, I don't have a problem with that, but the pitcher better make me believe there are no violations occuring. If I think that there are (and I'm not going to look any harder than normal), I certainly will not be giving the pitcher the benefit of the doubt after deliberately covering the PP with dirt.

I saw this handled well at the NCAA D-II Nationals a couple of years ago. Pitcher was the MVP the previous year, and was playing for the defending champions. She obviously and intentionally covered the rubber with dirt right after U3 swept it. U3 called an IP on the first pitch. (BTW, I think she was right -- the back toe was probably 2-3" off.) The pitcher brushed the dirt off the rubber, brought her back foot up to a legal position, and the game went on.

[Skahtboi]

I am with those who have nothing here, except for maybe a slightly smaller PP as far as any pitching infraction goes.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I am with those who have nothing here, except for maybe a slightly smaller PP as far as any pitching infraction goes.

To much info, Scott!