Asking for a different ball

Sliced Bread said:

I know what my pitcher would do if the ump refused to change balls, the next pitch would be launched over the back stop. By that time the used ball should have been recovered from out of play, and re entered. She's done it more than once.

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That was an option except then you put the winning run on 3rd base so not a great play.

PA SB Dad said:

That's what I thought. If she grabs some dirt, doesn't she have to wipe her hand off before she grips the ball?

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She doesn't have to wipe her hand off, as "dirt" is not a foreign substance by itself. Direct application of a pile of dirt to the ball is illegal, though. Basically, dirty hand is one thing, pile of dirt in the hand is entirely another.

PA SB Dad said:

That's what I thought. If she grabs some dirt, doesn't she have to wipe her hand off before she grips the ball?

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College yes any other association I am aware of no. Pitcher does not have to wipe hand after picking up dirt but they are not allowed to apply dirt directly to the ball or put dirt in glove and then the ball into glove.

They were on turf, she tried to rub it on the turf while HC was arguing and was told immediately to stop.

Comp said:

coach james said:

DD pitches, and hates brand new balls out of the wrapper. If she starts and we're home team, its pretty common to see her rubbing field dirt all over the ball to eliminate the tacky feel. She preferes a used ball that's more of a slick feel. Oddly enough, she refuses rosin???? I don't know? I guess its a teenage girl thing and I shouldn't try to understand! LOL

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Then she hasn't run into an umpire paying attention. It is illegal for her to apply dirt to the ball.

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Shes been warned more than once, now she does it in the quick infield huddle right before the game officially starts

Can she accidently drop it in the dirt and pick it up on the return from the catcher?

Surely she can't be expected to cleanly catch every throw from the catcher.

Comp said:

Then she hasn't run into an umpire paying attention. It is illegal for her to apply dirt to the ball.

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That is one of the dumber interpretations of ASA. Using dirt to rub down the ball should never be an issue, let alone a foreign substance violation. Dampening it and applying it to remain on the ball, should be the violation.

Then what's the deal/rule with a misty/wet day when a pitcher asks for a new ball sometimes multiple times in an AB? I see a coach in the dugout with a towel around his shoulder, and the ump is never even part of the exchange. She'll just toss it to the coach, who then tosses her a dry ball, then dries that ball, rinse and repeat throughout the game.

Bugab00 said:

Then what's the deal/rule with a misty/wet day when a pitcher asks for a new ball sometimes multiple times in an AB? I see a coach in the dugout with a towel around his shoulder, and the ump is never even part of the exchange. She'll just toss it to the coach, who then tosses her a dry ball, then dries that ball, rinse and repeat throughout the game.

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If the ball's excessively wet, then it has become- as the rule states- unplayable. The rule allows switching the ball in that case.

But we still shouldn't allow this to be abused. I don't have a problem with switching out the ball if the grass is wet and the ball was just put into the grass. "Multiple times in an at-bat" shouldn't happen if the ball never went anywhere except from the pitcher to catcher and back, unless maybe if you're playing in a light rain. In that case, the "coach with the towel" might actually help speed things up by keeping a dry ball available. Regardless, all this needs to be done under the watch and supervision of the umpire.

Bugab00 said:

Then what's the deal/rule with a misty/wet day when a pitcher asks for a new ball sometimes multiple times in an AB? I see a coach in the dugout with a towel around his shoulder, and the ump is never even part of the exchange. She'll just toss it to the coach, who then tosses her a dry ball, then dries that ball, rinse and repeat throughout the game.

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Good point.
It was a steady light sprinkle all day last sat. We exchanged the ball after every single play the ball was hit. Once the play was dead and the pitcher had possession in the circle, blue called time and she literally just threw the ball towards a dugout where a coach had a fresh replacement at the ready...