Observations From First Games of the Season

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

"The pitcher must pitch that ball until such time as the ball goes out of play." That does not say that she can't continue to pitch the ball AFTER it goes out of play. It just says she has to use it UNTIL it goes out of play.

What do you think "out of play" means?

[RKBUmp]

I knew we had been over this before, and not all that long ago either.

Ball Rotation

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

What do you think "out of play" means?

Good question, what do YOU think it means? Does it only mean (to you) left the park and gone forever, never to be seen again?

Given that we're discussing FED and ASA rules, most of us expect to get that ball back at some point ... sometimes immediately.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Good question, what do YOU think it means? Does it only mean (to you) left the park and gone forever, never to be seen again?

Given that we're discussing FED and ASA rules, most of us expect to get that ball back at some point ... sometimes immediately.

I was just making the point, by facetious question to one poster, that out of play means not being used.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

out of play means not being used.

I guess I missed your facetiousness, given that out of play actually means out of play - not being used means not being used.

[Manny A]

I find this whole ball rotation discussion fascinating. I wonder what's the history behind it?

If a pitcher doesn't like the "feel" of the hole in front of the pitcher's plate, and asks for Time to have it fixed, aren't you going to take the time to help her out, perhaps even bringing the grounds crew in to do some repair work? But if that pitcher throws 7-8 balls in a row out of the strikezone, and she wants another ball, why the heck does ASA and FED tell me I can't give it to her?

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I find this whole ball rotation discussion fascinating. I wonder what's the history behind it?

If a pitcher doesn't like the "feel" of the hole in front of the pitcher's plate, and asks for Time to have it fixed, aren't you going to take the time to help her out, perhaps even bringing the grounds crew in to do some repair work? But if that pitcher throws 7-8 balls in a row out of the strikezone, and she wants another ball, why the heck does ASA and FED tell me I can't give it to her?

I'm sure I'll be accused of not actually being at the table in the 1930s when the book was first written, but common sense says that it was implemented to prevent the pitcher from constantly asking for a new ball for the purpose of delaying the game. It also ensured that teams weren't throwing in "dead" balls while keeping the more juiced ones in the dugout. The issue with getting the new ball in in the bottom half of the second is just to make sure a new ball doesn't first enter the game in the 7th inning.

Abiding by strict ball rotation is ridiculous. Those who tend to do it don't properly interpret the rule, as is evident by others' posts. There is no remedy for not abiding by it. It isn't something that could be protested. Even if someone was dumb enough to protest it and someone else even dumber to uphold the protest, there is no remedy. What are you going to do, go back to the point of the protest and resume play from there with....hmmm....which ball do we use now....?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Abiding by strict ball rotation is ridiculous. Those who tend to do it don't properly interpret the rule, as is evident by others' posts. There is no remedy for not abiding by it. It isn't something that could be protested. Even if someone was dumb enough to protest it and someone else even dumber to uphold the protest, there is no remedy. What are you going to do, go back to the point of the protest and resume play from there with....hmmm....which ball do we use now....?

It's ridiculous to keep the playing field level? It's ridiculous to keep the game moving? It's ridiculous to insure the ball entering the field is legal and undamaged?

I have never had a problem with it and it doesn't become a problem because I do strictly adhere to it. And the teams expect it especially when they intentionally get rid of a ball because they do not like it. And there is nothing to protest, as you said, it isn't a rule, just a Rule Supplement. You may get a nice talking to by the UIC, but that's about it.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I'm sure I'll be accused of not actually being at the table in the 1930s when the book was first written, but common sense says that it was implemented to prevent the pitcher from constantly asking for a new ball for the purpose of delaying the game. It also ensured that teams weren't throwing in "dead" balls while keeping the more juiced ones in the dugout.

But these kinds of shenanigans can be taken care of through routine game management. The pitcher asks for a new ball once, no problem. She asks for another so shortly afterward, sorry; there's nothing wrong with the one I just gave you, let's play on. We do the same when a batter repeatedly requests Time from the box, or the catcher repeatedly requests Time to talk to the pitcher.

When I do baseball games, I give the pitcher a different ball whenever he requests one. I do the same when the ball is fouled off and stays within the fences, or the ball gets by the catcher to the backstop during between-inning warm-ups and even during the game (with no baserunners, obviously). The reason we do that is that the field is much bigger, and waiting for the catcher to get a ball from the backstop, or an outfielder to retrieve a foul ball in the corner, can disrupt the flow of the game. Teams usually know to have the on-deck batter or someone from the dugout to chase those down.

Oh well, like I said, fascinating.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Manny A

(snip)When I do baseball games, I give the pitcher a different ball whenever he requests one. I do the same when the ball is fouled off and stays within the fences, or the ball gets by the catcher to the backstop during between-inning warm-ups and even during the game (with no baserunners, obviously). The reason we do that is that the field is much bigger, and waiting for the catcher to get a ball from the backstop, or an outfielder to retrieve a foul ball in the corner, can disrupt the flow of the game. Teams usually know to have the on-deck batter or someone from the dugout to chase those down.

(snip)

This paragraph on a softball discussion board from a guy who was complaining about an accurate descriptipn of a foul tip that may have been a little redundant????

(sorry, it must be one of those pick on Manny days)

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

This paragraph on a softball discussion board from a guy who was complaining about an accurate descriptipn of a foul tip that may have been a little redundant????

(sorry, it must be one of those pick on Manny days)

Trust me, I live many of those days...

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Trust me, I live many of those days...

I thought that was your UIC's job.....

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by Manny A

But these kinds of shenanigans can be taken care of through routine game management. The pitcher asks for a new ball once, no problem. She asks for another so shortly afterward, sorry; there's nothing wrong with the one I just gave you, let's play on. We do the same when a batter repeatedly requests Time from the box, or the catcher repeatedly requests Time to talk to the pitcher.

I agree 100%. Use common sense. Keep the pitcher happy. Keep the game moving.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I agree 100%. Use common sense. Keep the pitcher happy. Keep the game moving.

What about the batter? You going to keep him/her happy when the request for another ball comes from the batter?

And when the pitcher complains that s/he doesn't like the grip on that ball......yada, yada, yada......