Can this be true?

[NM FP Ump]

I'm not a veteran like so many of you, but what I have been taught is:

New balls presented at pre-game conference: Give the balls to the BU and have him/her rub dirt on them during the conference. Toss one into the circle and keep the other one.

New balls coming into the game: Have the coach throw it to the catcher, check the ball to see if it conforms, rub some dirt on the ball and then give it to the pitcher.

Applying foreign substance: Incidental dirt/chalk on the ball happens, but a pitcher (or teammate) applying dirt/chalk/moisture on a ball is illegal. Give them a warning the first time it happens (hopefully before they pitch the ball), and the next time call IP.

I've only called this IP once, on a pitcher who would take the chalk from the circle and rub it between her fingers and would wipe off the chalk onto her pant leg. Then she would lick her fingers and wipe the fingers off on the same spot on her pant leg. Not very smart, if you ask me. It was so obvious that her coach didn't even argue.

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by NM FP Ump

Applying foreign substance: Incidental dirt/chalk on the ball happens, but a pitcher (or teammate) applying dirt/chalk/moisture on a ball is illegal. Give them a warning the first time it happens (hopefully before they pitch the ball), and the next time call IP.

I've only called this IP once, on a pitcher who would take the chalk from the circle and rub it between her fingers and would wipe off the chalk onto her pant leg. Then she would lick her fingers and wipe the fingers off on the same spot on her pant leg. Not very smart, if you ask me. It was so obvious that her coach didn't even argue.

First, where does it say you give a warning for an IP?? Call it or don't call it, but don't warn them. That will bite you in the butt sooner or later!! When the other team's girl commits an obvious IP that coach will want the warning as well, and quite honestly he is justified in asking for the warning.

Now, if she wipes her hands I don't have an IP at all, not matter where she wipes it. She is doing what the rule states she has to do, wipe her hands.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Dholloway1962

...Now, if she wipes her hands I don't have an IP at all, not matter where she wipes it. She is doing what the rule states she has to do, wipe her hands.

Again, this only applies to applying saliva onto the ball. If, in the umpire's judgment, she is using this to apply a different foreign substance to the ball (in this case, chalk), then call the IP. The rule does NOT say the pitcher can put whatever crap she wants to on the ball so long as she wipes her hand while doing so.

I agree with your comment about the warnings. You're looking for trouble there. Although I have umpired in a tournament where the umpires were instructed to warn before calling IPs, but that was a rec-level tournament.