Odd umpire ruling - Wheeling, WV Road Runners tournament

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After one of many balls went over the backstop and down the hill on field 4 at the I-470 complex, blue threw a brand new ball out to the opposing team's pitcher. She tossed it on the ground and started to rub it around in the dirt. He called time and then told her "If you throw that ball it will be an illegal pitch". Thought this was kind of odd. It was only dirt and it was still cleaner than the other balls we were using. I just wasn't sure why he gave her a warning and didn't just call a ball right away if what she did really was a violation of a rule. Thoughts, anyone?

 

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A pitcher applying dirt directly to the ball is considered "applying a foreign substance". The umpire should have called an illegal pitch right away.

Now for the usual argument....How can dirt be a foreign substance when a softball field is made of dirt and the balls get dirty anyway?

The rules don't say a ball can't get dirty or have dirt on it. They say that a defensive player may not intentionally appy it to the ball. That is the rule violation, an intentional act committed by a defensive player.

ASA clarified this rule in an interpretation published on their website:

May 2010: One common question from all areas of the country, especially in the game of Fast Pitch but would apply to other games is “By rule, is dirt a foreign substance?” Do you need to wipe off your hand if you pick up dirt and rub it on your hands?” Rule 6, Section 6A. Fast Pitch states that a defensive player shall not at any time during the game be allowed to use a foreign substance upon the ball. Under the supervision and control of the umpire, powder resin and or an approved manufactured drying agent may be used by the pitcher….

Why would we consider dirt, something common to the ground, a” foreign substance”? If a pitcher or any other defensive player picks up dirt and applies it to the ball we say “no”. We do not allow the application of any material to the ball. Players can apply resin to their hand, not to the ball. If a pitcher picks up a handful of dirt or wipes the ground with their hand, then rubs their hands together, there is no foreign substance being transferred. If a defensive player puts dirt in their hand and throws it on the ground, then catches a thrown or batted ball and returns it to the pitcher do we call this illegal? No. Example: If the catcher wipes their hand on the ground before catching the pitch and returns the ball to the pitcher without wiping their hand off do we have a violation of Rule 6? The answer is no. If we do not, then why do umpires from around the country say that the pitcher must wipe their hand off after touching dirt? Our Rule 6 is very specific, it says any “defensive player shall not at any time during a game be allowed to use any foreign substance upon the ball.”

So, if dirt can and has been used as a natural drying agent to dry off the hands, we do not believe it is mandatory for the pitcher to wipe off their hand if they pick up dirt, throw it to the ground or rub it into their hands. We do not allow dirt to be applied directly to the ball just as we do not permit any other substance. Therefore applying dirt to the hand and not wiping the hand off is perfectly legal by ASA Official Rules of Softball.

 

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Ok follow up question? WE had this happen at the beginning of one of our games this weekend. Before first pitch opposing teams pitcher bends over and rubs ball with and rolls it around in the dirt ( during 1st inning warm ups, I cant remember if it was directly before first pitch) No illiegal pitch was called, sounds like it could have been.

Ok for arguments sake, lets say it was just before first pitch? If umpire makes no call, how would you appeal this to umpire? After pitch is thrown or call timeout right after you see her put dirt on the ball, (which would be the time of violation) and ask the umpire about the rule? And what would he call at that time? a Ball? Just curious

Also would it matter if this was done during warm ups a few pitches before first pitch?

 

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Good questions Crush...... I'm interested in the answers.

 

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I don't think that you'll find any printed guidelines or rules that specifically answer all of these. This is how I would personally handle it.

If it happens during the game (that is, at a point of the game where you could have a batter in the batter's box and an actual pitch about to be thrown) it is an illegal pitch (this one is covered by rule).

If it happens while a pitcher is throwing warm-up pitches between innings, the umpire should warn the pitcher, take the ball, inspect it for damage and give her another ball. My reasoning is that you can't have an illegal pitch during a period when a pitch cannot be thrown.

If it happened before the first batter of the game...I would say if it was before the umpire announced "Play" or "Play ball" to start the game, handle it as a warning. If it happened after the announcement to "Play ball" treat it as an illegal pitch. I say that because up until the point where the umpire says "Play ball" the game has not officially started.

I would say that the offensive coach could ask the umpire about this at any point where you have "live" batters. The rule says the defensive player cannot put dirt on the ball. It doesn't say that throwing another pitch negates the infraction or the penalty.

Just my own opinion, barring specific guidelines from ASA- which there are none!

 

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And think about MLB where evry game ball is rubbed in a special mud!!

This is probably a rule like so many rules/laws in our society--it was done at one time where a pitcher, probaby a male, cheated and it is now outlawed for the others who only have good intentions. And, the person who cheated, is meanwhile figuring out how he can get around the rule.

 

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After one of many balls went over the backstop and down the hill on field 4 at the I-470 complex, blue threw a brand new ball out to the opposing team's pitcher. She tossed it on the ground and started to rub it around in the dirt. He called time and then told her "If you throw that ball it will be an illegal pitch". Thought this was kind of odd. It was only dirt and it was still cleaner than the other balls we were using. I just wasn't sure why he gave her a warning and didn't just call a ball right away if what she did really was a violation of a rule. Thoughts, anyone?

He clearly messed up on two accounts. One for not awarding an illegal pitch, which would have allowed runners to advance one base. The second was in giving a warning to the pitcher instead of just calling the illegal pitch. Not sure what his explanation was for handling it this way, but he got to hear about his poor ruling from the "Peanut Gallery";&

 

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There are sooooo many ways around that rule for a pitcher AND catcher. Just don't be so obvious by throwing it down and rubbing it in the dirt and you won't have a problem. As a catcher if we were the home team, I always missed 1 or 2 of the warm-up pitches in the 1st inning and made sure I gave the ball a good rub in the dirt when I picked it up, just don't make it obvious what you are doing and there won't be a problem. We know you girls know how to be sneaky!!!!

 

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New balls right out of the wrapper do have a protective coating, put there by the manufacturer to help preserve ball. And it can be kind of slick. It is not uncommon for the umpires to "rub up" the balls before the game to get rid of the slickness. I try to do that with any new ball I get and I use a little dirt when I do.

A pitcher could ask the umpire to rub up the ball for her if it hasn't already been done and he could do that. Or she could rub the ball herself, as long as she isn't doing it with a handful of dirt. Or she could just put a couple of her warm-up pitches in the dirt!