Dirt and the ball

[Rita C]

Pitcher takes ball and rubs the ball on the dirt. What do you do, if anything?

High school rules. Please use rule.

Thank you.

Rita

[okla21fan]

Do you 'do anything' any other time the ball rubs on the dirt?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by okla21fan

Do you 'do anything' any other time the ball rubs on the dirt?

That's not helpful.

[Az.Ump]

Call time. Walk out to the pitcher and tell her not to do that again and give her a different ball. Tell her coach. Return the ball to the home coach if you judge it has been defaced and get a replacement. If she repeats doing it again eject.

ART. 6 . . . Any defacing, treatment or device that would change the ball spec-
ifications listed in 1-3-3 are prohibited and render the ball illegal.

Paul

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by Az.Ump

Call time. Walk out to the pitcher and tell her not to do that again and give her a different ball. Tell her coach. Return the ball to the home coach if you judge it has been defaced and get a replacement. If she repeats doing it again eject.

ART. 6 . . . Any defacing, treatment or device that would change the ball spec-
ifications listed in 1-3-3 are prohibited and render the ball illegal.

Paul

Have you ever seen a ball DEFACED by dirt? Which "specification" was changed?

[RKBUmp]

Normal wear and tear of the ball is one thing, purposely grinding the ball into the ground is defacing the ball.

[JEL]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Have you ever seen a ball DEFACED by dirt? Which "specification" was changed?

Then why does MLB change change them out once they are fouled into the dirt?

Must just be a "clone" thing huh?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Rita C

That's not helpful.

I thought it was.

[IRISHMAFIA]

I actually address this with HS coaches when I see it during their scrimmages/play days.

The OP clearly indicates the ball being rubbed in the dirt. I've even seen pitchers drop the ball and stand on the ball and move their feet to grind the ball into the ground.

As the umpire in a game I would stop them immediately and instruct them to not do it again.

I will inspect the ball and either keep it or replace it. I will then instruct the coach that if their player believe the ball to be too slippery, I will be more than happy to rub it down, or maybe have them rub it down in their hands. If they want to use dirt, I don't have a problem with that as long as all they are doing is rubbing it down, not marking or scraping it.

I make it clear to the coaches that any player found to be doing so after our little talk will need to find a seat on the bench.

I think the issue in the OP isn't so much the dirt, but how the pitcher was attempting to scuff up the ball.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

(Snip)
I think the issue in the OP isn't so much the dirt, but how the pitcher was attempting to scuff up the ball.

That is the way I read the original post.

Pitcher takes ball and rubs the ball on the dirt. What do you do, if anything?

I would check the ball, tell the pitcher not to do that again, let her know that if she has a problem with the ball to let me know and I'll take care of it.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I actually address this with HS coaches when I see it during their scrimmages/play days.

The OP clearly indicates the ball being rubbed in the dirt. I've even seen pitchers drop the ball and stand on the ball and move their feet to grind the ball into the ground.

As the umpire in a game I would stop them immediately and instruct them to not do it again.

I will inspect the ball and either keep it or replace it. I will then instruct the coach that if their player believe the ball to be too slippery, I will be more than happy to rub it down, or maybe have them rub it down in their hands. If they want to use dirt, I don't have a problem with that as long as all they are doing is rubbing it down, not marking or scraping it.

I make it clear to the coaches that any player found to be doing so after our little talk will need to find a seat on the bench.

I think the issue in the OP isn't so much the dirt, but how the pitcher was attempting to scuff up the ball.

Hmm, to remove it would mean to say that the action was illegal. Where does it say to issue a warning and take the ball from the pitcher? Or are you just making that up because you think it's the right thing to do even if there is no rules support?

[NSABill]

You impress me with your Carnegie skills.
I am sure you are a joy to work with, young man.

[HugoTafurst]

BINGO .....I was holding off thinking that maybe I was misreading your posts....


But now, I am leaning towards thing that you truely are on here just to raise stink and pick fights.

[EsqUmp]

People regularly ask me to quote specific areas of a rule book and bash anything that isn't spelled out in black and white. They all want "rule book support." So now I'm asking for it. It's hypocritical to just complain that I am asking for it.

[pob14]

Umpire12, despite his use of the word "Bingo," I'm pretty sure Hugo's post was aimed at someone else . . . .