licking fingers

[3SPORT]

It isn't illegal to lick your fingers in the circle, the key is to make sure you wipe your hand prior to getting on the pp. If the pitcher does not wipe off then you have an illegal pitch.

[DeputyUICHousto]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

It isn't illegal to lick your fingers in the circle, the key is to make sure you wipe your hand prior to getting on the pp. If the pitcher does not wipe off then you have an illegal pitch.

any "foreign" substance...including dirt should the pitcher pick up a handful.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

It isn't illegal to lick your fingers in the circle, the key is to make sure you wipe your hand prior to getting on the pp. If the pitcher does not wipe off then you have an illegal pitch.

It isn't illegal to lick your fingers on the pitcher's plate, either.

The rule says the pitcher must wipe off before bringing that hand in contact with the ball. That is true in ASA, NFHS, and NCAA. There is nothing stated about any location where this can or cannot happen, so it can legally happen anywhere.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Speaking ASA

There is no rule forbidding the pitcher from licking their fingers at any time or place on the field.

[shipwreck]

That's what I thought but some JUCO coach tried to tell the PU, who had just called an illegal pitch on his pitcher because she licked her fingers and didn't wipe off. He claimed as long as she did that BEFORE being on the PP, it wasn't illegal. Go figure. Dave

[shipwreck]

Oh, and on the OP I forgot to say that she didn't wipe off. Dave

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Oh, and on the OP I forgot to say that she didn't wipe off. Dave

BTW, my personal belief is that the entire perception of licking one's fingers should be illegal is complete BS.

[Dakota]

Given the physics of pitching a softball, this is a stupid rule. Is there any such thing as a "spit ball" in fastpitch, even at the highest levels? The size and mass of the ball is just too great for a little saliva to have any material affect, it seems to me.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Given the physics of pitching a softball, this is a stupid rule. Is there any such thing as a "spit ball" in fastpitch, even at the highest levels? The size and mass of the ball is just too great for a little saliva to have any material affect, it seems to me.

Yeah, but what about the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup they were sucking on?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Given the physics of pitching a softball, this is a stupid rule. Is there any such thing as a "spit ball" in fastpitch, even at the highest levels? The size and mass of the ball is just too great for a little saliva to have any material affect, it seems to me.

Well, I certainly can't get into a discussion on the physics part of pitching a softball, but I can tell you there is an advantage to moistening two or three fingers on your pitching hand.

As you all know, when a ball is new, it has a certain "slippery-ness" [is that a word?] to it which is why pitchers usually like to warm up with a new ball on the sidelines in order to wear that surface off a bit and to get some "feel" on the ball. In cold weather conditions, and assuming it is not raining, I found it helped to moisten either my index/middle or middle/ring fingers to throw a pitch. The moisture provided a little sticking action for a short period which allowed for some traction to impart spin on the ball. Also, when playing in dry conditions, either on stone dust or clay/dirt mixed infields, the ball tends to get dusty, and therefore a bit slippery. Again, a bit of moisture helped.

I never was called for licking my fingers, but maybe I played before this specific rule was put in? And if it was, I think it could be pretty easy to circumvent. Lick your first two fingers and wipe your last two, making it look like you're wiping off the ones you licked. Or lick the middle/ring fingers and just apply pressure on the index/pinkie on the wipe off. Advanced pitchers who are used to applying pressure with different fingers on certain pitches would have no problem with this. I don't think umpires' eyes can be that discerning from 40 or 50 feet away.

There may be some that can "load" up a softball, but I never did it nor did I know anyone that did that. So trying to get a ball to do something by adding something to it, be it saliva, mucus, or some hair product is not practical. We wouldn't be hearing "DING!" as much as "SPLAT!" if a pitcher was loading up.

Ted

[3SPORT]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

BTW, my personal belief is that the entire perception of licking one's fingers should be illegal is complete BS.

I agree and to make it an illegal pitch seems like an excessive penalty. Maybe without getting rid of a consequence they could make it a delayed dead ball and just a ball for the batter, instead of an illegal pitch.

I agree that it has no physical consequence on a pitch that is delivered.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

I agree and to make it an illegal pitch seems like an excessive penalty. Maybe without getting rid of a consequence they could make it a delayed dead ball and just a ball for the batter, instead of an illegal pitch.

I agree that it has no physical consequence on a pitch that is delivered.

I submitted a change to ASA a couple years ago and it went nowhere. Too many traditionalist that don't know why it is, but it has been that way for years and changing it would ruin the game. Huh???

[marvin]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

I agree that it has no physical consequence on a pitch that is delivered.

Ban a pitcher who usually licks her fingers every pitch and you will (in most cases) see a difference. And if you don't see one, then that's OK, because the pitcher is now complying with the rules. You won't know is there is a difference unless you enforce the rule.

Trying to determine a 'gained advantage' or in your wording 'physical consequence' to the action is - to me - looking at the enforcement of a rule the wrong way. My position is always that if there is no advantage to breaking the rule there will be no loss of effectiveness if the rule is followed (if a coach is arguing there was 'no advantage gained'). If there is a loss of effectiveness, an advantage is certainly demonstrated. I have encountered this argument many times when dealing with illegal pitch calls.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

... JUCO coach....

Say no more!