Spit on ball

[MTR]

You are kidding. Is there truly that much ignorance of the game here?

[shockcoach]

This rule (ASA) is written in such a way that it creates a bit of a grey area under this particular circumstance.

"A defensive player shall not at any time during the game be allowed to use any foreign substance upon the ball. Under the supervision and control of the umpire, powdered resin may be used to dry the hands. Applying resin in the glove and then placing the ball in the glove is an illegal act. Resin must be kept on the ground behind the pitcher’s plate. A pitcher who licks their fingers must wipe the fingers off before bringing them in contact with the ball."

Here you have a coach using a foreign substance and then wiping it off. Is that foreign substance being used by the player in this instance. I would have to say no. It sounds like the coach is cleaning off the slippery dirt to me. Tough call, but if the umpire rules okay, I'll buy it.

[MTR]

Tough call, but if the umpire rules okay, I'll buy it.

There is nothing tough about it. For that matter, "it" is nothing.

The process of "rubbing down" a ball has gone on for decades. DECADES people! It is done to remove the post-production coating applied to a ball before packing. And it often involves the use of saliva. In MLB, the umpires are required to rub down a certain number of balls before the game with a specific compound derived of mud from a specific point on the Delaware River. Well, not everyone has access to this product and I wouldn't doubt there are other abrasives out there, but coaches and umpires don't carry around jars of mud in their pockets.

And seriously, this should not be news to anyone with knowledge of the game.

[topper]

You are kidding. Is there truly that much ignorance of the game here?

And seriously, this should not be news to anyone with knowledge of the game.

Please excuse my ignorance and lack of knowledge but, once the game starts, I don't allow players or coaches to rub up a ball unless they are instructed to by me or my partner(s).

[anonlooker]

You are kidding. Is there truly that much ignorance of the game here?

And seriously, this should not be news to anyone with knowledge of the game.

Please excuse my ignorance and lack of knowledge but, once the game starts, I don't allow players or coaches to rub up a ball unless they are instructed to by me or my partner(s).

Okay, your ignorance and lack of knowledge are excused.

[MTR]

OK Mike, I'll play along, your example is not the same as the coach in the OP was doing this every inning. I doubt any "post-production coating" was still left on the ball

You are right, at that point it isn't, but just what do you think this coach is doing and what type of affect will it have on the ball?

[softballdadcoach]

I have played SP softball for almost 30 years, and have coached/watched my (and others') daughters play FP softball for 10 years or so. So please do not feign some sort of superiority by asking "You are kidding. Is there truly that much ignorance of the game here?". Any valid point you try to make will be lost. I spoke from my personal experience and knowledge.

In my experience I have NEVER seen a coach being allowed to spit on a ball between innings as posted in the OP. In fact, many times I have seen players and coaches told to stop scuffing a ball with dirt, etc by umpires.

Does spitting on the ball gain anyone an advantage? I truly do not know. What advantage is gained by rubbing rosin on a ball in the glove, or a pitcher licking her fingers before a pitch? Perhaps someone with apparently way more knowledge of the game than me can give us the answer.

[KekambuS]

Was this the coach?

[MTR]

I have played SP softball for almost 30 years, and have coached/watched my (and others') daughters play FP softball for 10 years or so. So please do not feign some sort of superiority by asking "You are kidding. Is there truly that much ignorance of the game here?". Any valid point you try to make will be lost. I spoke from my personal experience and knowledge.

And I'm in my 45th year of umpiring, baseball and softball, and I played baseball, had a few tryouts with NL teams (but so has a load of people) and played SP & FP while in the USN and then played SP an additional 34 years, so if you really want to debate experience, we can do that.

In my experience I have NEVER seen a coach being allowed to spit on a ball between innings as posted in the OP. In fact, many times I have seen players and coaches told to stop scuffing a ball with dirt, etc by umpires.

Try rereading the OP. He spit on his hands and rubbed down the ball, BFD! And on top of that, THERE IS NO RULE FORBIDDING IT! (that's right, Spaz, there is no rule). And damaging the ball is not the same thing, but anyone with experience would know that.

Does spitting on the ball gain anyone an advantage? I truly do not know. What advantage is gained by rubbing rosin on a ball in the glove, or a pitcher licking her fingers before a pitch?

In softball, there is no advantage.

Perhaps someone with apparently way more knowledge of the game than me can give us the answer.

Been there, done that.

[ontheblack]

I'm in my 45th year of umpiring

So your are one of those old guys that cant move fast enough to get in position to make the call.

Got it.