ice_67 wrote:Is rubbing dirt on a softball legal? ASA rules. Saw a pitcher take a hand full of dirt and rub it on the ball last weekend. She did this multiple times. I thought it could be called as applying a foreign substance to the ball.
ice_67 wrote:Is rubbing dirt on a softball legal? ASA rules. Saw a pitcher take a hand full of dirt and rub it on the ball last weekend. She did this multiple times. I thought it could be called as applying a foreign substance to the ball.
MTR wrote:ice_67 wrote:Is rubbing dirt on a softball legal? ASA rules. Saw a pitcher take a hand full of dirt and rub it on the ball last weekend. She did this multiple times. I thought it could be called as applying a foreign substance to the ball.
To rub down the ball, legal. To apply to stay on the ball, illegal
skahtboi wrote:MTR wrote:
Not sure what you are saying here, but if I understand you, you are saying the players can rub the ball with dirt? This is not true. Not in ASA, NFHS, or NCAA. This is why, when schools fail to "rough up" new game balls before game time, I have the fielders warm up with them.
MTR wrote:skahtboi wrote:MTR wrote:
Not sure what you are saying here, but if I understand you, you are saying the players can rub the ball with dirt? This is not true. Not in ASA, NFHS, or NCAA. This is why, when schools fail to "rough up" new game balls before game time, I have the fielders warm up with them.
That's funny, because I just pick up an handful of dirt and rub down the ball.
I am aware of the case play, but a little common sense is in order here. The dirt is a common factor in the game. The ball rolls on, is thrown and batted into the dirt the entire game. How can a substance which is part of the field and game be considered a foreign substance?
I didn't say "apply it to the ball" or pitch the ball with dirt attached to it or still in the hand. I'm not talking about rubbing or scraping the ball on the ground. I'm simply talking about taking some dirt in one's hand and rubbing the ball. All it does is remove the machine-applied sheen from the ball. IOW, doing the same thing that "may" occur by throwing/rolling the ball into the dirt, just doing it more efficiently and evenly over the surface of the ball.
ice_67 wrote:
MTR,
I understand your point, but when I see a pitcher get called for IP for not wiping her hands after she brushed her fingers into the dirt, then what's the difference.
MTR wrote:ice_67 wrote:
MTR,
I understand your point, but when I see a pitcher get called for IP for not wiping her hands after she brushed her fingers into the dirt, then what's the difference.
I think that is just as ludicrous as calling an IP for a pitcher not wiping off their fingers after going to the mouth.
Just how is the ball of that size going to be affected by a pitcher licking her fingers? A pitcher can use resin on their hands, but not dirt. How does that make any sense? On top of that, it isn't really enforcable. A pitcher goes to the mouth or dirt, drops the hand to the pants and similates wiping their fingers, but actually does not. There is no umpire who is going to see that or stop the game to make that call.