Can this be true?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

That's part of the issue. The rule forbids applying a foreign substance to the ball. To me, applying anything to the ball means placing it on the ball and it stays there.

Exactly. I'm surprised some umpires don't grasp exactly why this rule is there. The bottom line, to me, is that it temporarily "alters" the ball in a way that's favorable to the defense.

[NDblue]

But dirt is not foreign to the ball. Spit is a completely different thing as is Vaseline or using sandpaper. Are we going to start making the pitchers wipe off the ball every time it touches dirt? If that's the case, I'd still be umping my very first game because that's how long a game will last. I can be given two brand new balls at the beginning of a game and prior to the first pitch of said game, I'm quite certain one of those balls has seen the ground and the other ball that's still in my ball bag is going to have some kind of "foreign" substance on it whether it's dust or residue from a dryer sheet. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a pitcher can take the ball and rough it up in a pile of dirt that he/she has conjured up but if he/she puts some dirt one his/her hand and doesn't wipe their hand on their pants/shirt, I'm not calling IP because there's nothing in the rule book to back it up. Just so we're clear, IMO dirt is NOT a foreign substance and unless they're using mud, the dirt isn't sticking to the ball in any way that will change the flight characteristics.

[wadeintothem]

mens slow pitch?

Of course you dont call this.

girls fast pitch...

find a way to tell her to stop it so you dont have to call it.

This is the same non call as some others I can think of.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

mens slow pitch?

Of course you dont call this.

girls fast pitch...

find a way to tell her to stop it so you dont have to call it.

This is the same non call as some others I can think of.

What about women's slow pitch and men's fast pitch?

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NDblue

What about women's slow pitch and men's fast pitch?

too much other cheating going to worry about dirt on a ball in mens fastpitch.

[Dakota]

JMO, but I think by and large the foreign substance rule can be completely ignored in girls FP. They are highly unlikely to be putting an "real" foreign substance on the ball, and neither a little dirt nor a little spit is going to materially alter the flight of the ball - the distance is too short and the ball is too large / heavy.

Besides, all good pitchers are also good at the pretend wipe off. Sometimes they might forget; sometimes I might just not notice.

[BretMan]

A couple of general comments...

- Is dirt a "foreign substance" with respect to the ball? Sure it is.

Go buy a new ball. Open the package. Take the ball out. Look at it. Does it come with dirt already applied? Of course not. Since dirt is not a naturally occuring substance on a ball, it is indeed "foreign" to the ball.

- Does that mean that we have to replace the game ball with a fresh new one every time the game ball touches the dirt. Absolutely not!

Note that the rule specifically addresses the pitcher applying the foreign substance. It is the willful action of the player, in a possible attempt to gain an unfair advantage, that is illegal- not the substance itself.

Dirt, sand, dust, moisture or mud that gets on the game ball through normal game play (as opposed to a willful act by the pitcher) is incidental- not illegal.