Legal Pitchers Glove?
 

I searched on the forum and haven't seen this glove brought up. If it has I apologize. There is a black Mizuno glove with optic yellow M logo and optic yellot Mizuno wording on one one the fingers. Is this glove legal for FP pitcher to wear? Here is a link if you need to see a picture of it. You can click on photo of the glove to enlarge it.

http://www.ballglovewarehouse.com/pr...ew.aspx?p=5991

I believe by rule it is illegal but wanted your input.

Thanks

I dont OOO this glove and its a very common glove. I suppose if it became an issue, they could just black out the mizuno with a sharpie. Thus far, I've never had it be an issue.

I had a coach complain about this glove earlier this week in a Junior College game. The writing is ball colored and I had it removed. The complaining coach was losing 9-0 at the time. It came back in the next inning with electrical tape covering the optic yellow.

The rules allow that glove unless the UMPIRE finds that logo or writing distracting. In my opinion, you did exactly what the losing coach wanted; you allowed him/her to create something to attempt to get in the head of the pitcher.

IF IT DIDN'T DISTRACT YOU WITHOUT THE COACH COMPLAINING, HOW DID IT DISTRACT YOU AFTER??

I would allow the glove.

Also, I agree with Steve's assessment above.

And, along those same lines...

If it wasn't distracting enough for the coach to have brought it up at the outset of the game, how is it suddenly an issue now that we're deep in the game?

I had a good one a few years ago.

Coach makes some complaint about some perceived technicality with the pitcher's glove. I allowed the pitcher to keep the glove and the coach got kind of huffy about it.

Then, his team proceeds to rack up a big inning at the plate, scoring six or seven runs.

At the end of the inning, as he crosses past me back to his dugout, I say, "Guess her glove wasn't so distracting, after all". :rolleyes:

Yep, last year a fairly close game, visiting coach replaces F1 in a bout the third inning. New F1 had bright yellow shoelaces. Home coach has to grumble about it and I tell her I don't find thatdistracting at all. She then yells to her dugout, "Don't mistake her shoelaces for the ball." I had to tell her "Coach, if they do that you need to have some serious hitting practice!" The game never made seven, they run-ruled the yellow footed pitcher. I just couldn't resist ( also this coach grew up playing ball with my DD, spent time at my home, etc.) As I was returning the game balls, I just said, ".....(her name) I guess they all should wear yellow laces huh?" She just smiled.....

Sometimes you get lucky and they smile, but why risk it. I think just letting it go and not trying to rehash it would be the more prudent thing to do.

As for the original question, I guess pitching style might make a difference, but I would agree with the folks that say they would allow it.

At our last association meeting our UIC said that players cannot wear that Mizuno model while pitching and wants everyone in out association to enforce that decision.

How can he say that when at most, they could remedy it? I dont see how he can justify banning a glove. A $2 sharpie and a very nice glove is good to go, even if OOOing it.

I've tried it on, thats a great glove. I would buy it if I were playing.

The problem goes away if the logo is not visible.

Ordinarily I would not even grin, laugh very loudly inside, but not bring it up at all.

The part that makes the difference though was this;

>>>( also this coach grew up playing ball with my DD, spent time at my home, etc.)<<<

and also, no-one knew this but me and her! It has been fun to see some of the kids I actually coached at times (this is one) grow up, get educated and now are returning the education!

I don't think that is in the rulebook, in regards to the optic yellow coloring on the glove. I thought it just said there can't be any coloring or logos that are the color of the ball. Don't have my book here with me so I will look it up later. I personally think it's an illegal glove, but the procedure here (so far anyway) as been to ignore it unless it is brought to our attention then disallow it.

Coach's complaints about glove and/or shoelace distractions are bull crap. A batter should be coached to pick up the ball as soon as the hands separate and focus on finding the ball off the hip as soon as possible. By time the ball is released, the glove hand is up and away from the release point.

Imagine a coach that complains that his batter's eyes are being distracted and are following the glove instead of the ball. After momentarily choking on my smirk or laughter, I may or may not have a comment about his coaching ability, but we are going on with the game. With the glove; with or without the coach.

There isn't an umpire on this board that will call interference on a runner that passes in front of a defender fielding a ground ball. You would tell the fielder to keep her focus on the ball and not be distracted by the runner. On a major issue like that you are not going to allow a distraction complaint, then why do so for a spot on the glove.

Successful pitching, like the leadership positions in other sports (point guard, quarterback, goalie) tends to be more mental than physical. Coaches know that, and if they can get you to hear them out and even talk to the pitcher (about gloves or IP's or ponytails, or whatever), they have gained a little victory in distracting the pitcher. I don't need a coach telling me what is wrong with a pitcher. If there is a real problem, I would have already taken care of it. When the coach comes out, he is going back in a hurry cause I don't want to talk about it.

WMB

Stated was a Junior College game; that is played under NCAA rules. The NCAA rule is:

10.13.3 The pitcher shall not wear any item on the pitching fingers, hand, wrist, forearm or thighs that an umpire considers distracting. This includes a batting glove, sweatband and loose lacing on a glove, or ballcolored logos. Exception: The pitcher’s fingers, hand, wrist, forearm or elbow may be taped for injury, providing such tape is a neutral color.

I don't see any possible misinterpretation; ballcolored logos on the glove are only illegal if an umpire considers it distracting.

At the ASA Gold Regional we were instructed by the UIC not to allow the glove to be used by the pitcher in the game.

Why do that? Sure, I'd think it...but why be confrontational?

Ya know, I have six major areas of concern when I am doing the dish:
Strike
Out
Fair
Foul
Safe
Ball

If I concentrate on thoseand and use positive self-talk to reinforce good mechanics and maintain concentration, then frankly I don't have time to worry about some logo on the glove. Perhaps I am fortunate and have not been impacted by that bright yellow M or W or whatever on the glove. I have had one coach mention the glove over the past three years and told him I was not distracted by it.

As for clothing (kneepads and shoelaces in particular) I believe we had something straight from Kevin Ryan last year for all ASA umpires to not pay attention to that clothing. I could be wrong about the source, but at any rate,

(mounting soapbox) IMHO we have more to worry about than clothing. If we took the time to mentor other umpires that some of us spend worrying about things like shirttails, logos and sliding pads, we'd have a lot better umpiring. (dismounting soapbox)

Since it was never stated what code you are using, you have been given the interpretation for NCAA. For NFHS, it could also be a legal glove, since their rule states "glove lacing and manufacturers logo are not to be considered one of the two colors permitted" for a glove to be. It also states that only gloves that are entirely grey, white, or optic yellow are to be considered illegal. The rest it leaves up to umpire discretion.

That was a very liberal interpretation of 3:4 on his part. Extremely. Me, being the person I am, may have had to ask him what he was basing this interpretation on.

In defense of those who state their UIC told them to call it illegal (assuming ASA), and to note why Mike has likely not responded, at last year's National UIC Clinic (Feb 2007), Kevin Ryan directed and interpreted the rule to make that spcific glove illegal. I have never seen that put into writing, nor do believe it ever has been.

I do know that several individuals passed that interpretation to Mizuno representatives, who certainly had extended conversations with Kevin Ryan, and presumably others, about that interpretation. It was specifically communicated that both NCAA and NFHS rules needed no such interpretation, that logo's and writing were not considered an intrinsic part of the glove, and that it had been stated multiple times that we were making efforts to eliminate unnecessary and unintended differences in interpretation between ASA/NFHS/NCAA whenever possible, without changing the inherent intended differences which do exist.

I will admit that I did not follow-up since, as I disagreed with him then, still do, and hoped that no news and an unstated and unwritten policy had been changed by those involved. I was and have been in "don't ask, don't tell" mode regarding ASA; but NCAA and NFHS are clear. If (Irish) Mike felt strongly that the interpretation was correct, he surely would have spoken up in this thread by now.

Coach: Blue, she can't use that glove, it is optic yellow.
Me: Really, Coach? I don't see it.
Coach: How can you miss it?
Me: Coach, I just cannot see it.
Coach: You can't see the "M" and "Mizuno" on that glove?
Me: Sure, Coach, I see that.
Coach: Well, the pitcher cannot use a glove which includes the color of the ball.
Me: That's right, Coach. If part of the glove was optic yellow, I would tell her she cannot use it.
Coach: THE LOGO AND NAME IS OPTIC YELLOW!!!!
Me: Oh, no, Coach. That's not optic yellow.
Coach: It's NOT?!?!
Me: No, Coach. In my judgment, that's green.


BTW, I'm pretty much with Steve on this issue.

2006 ASA National Umpire School, Seattle: J. Craig to umpire students: That glove is illegal if worn by the pitcher.

2006 ASA/USA 16A National, Seattle: J. Craig to umpire crew: That glove is illegal if worn by the pitcher.

2007 ASA National Umpire School, Alaska: J. Craig to umpire students: That glove is illegal if worn by the pitcher.

2007 ASA Advanced Fast Pitch Camp, Georgia: K. Ryan to umpire students: That glove is illegal if worn by the pitcher.

Seems pretty consistent to me.

Yeah I meant ASA.

Nobody is arguing what the ASA stance is on the glove. It's just that a couple of personal opinions fall on the side of overkill. That "coloring" is not more distracting than ....well, never mind.

Amen brother!

Preach it.

The shirt tail thing especially drives me nuts when I have a partner so worried about that, its a continuous thing throughout the game and part of the pregame!!! and then!! come up to me between inning "you know shortstops shirt is not tucked in all the way around"

Gimme a break.


I will admit a certain amount of joy when working mens FP and I ask the batter to at least give me a "girl tuck" on the front of his shirt...

Maybe that's why Mizuno put their name on the middle finger of the glove. Kind of a statement in itself.;)

I like this statement! Even when Mizuno fooled me also the first time I saw this glove: A dutch national-team pitcher was standing on the plate, ball in bare hand and I'm pretty sure I saw the ball in her glove!I could see the ball between her fingers... We don't have two ball's in this game, I've asked myself.
Well this pitcher has played since then with this glove several games for the national championships, for the European Cup and - championships, Olympic Qualifiërs and was in feb. on a tour with the Dutch Olympic softball team in San Fran. and on Hawahi. If all the umpires in those games didn't tell her to change her glove, why would I?