scuffed baseball question

[mgoblue]

After any pitch in the dirt the catcher will get a new ball from the umpire. Any reason this happens? I mean don't they use a ball after a hit, you've gotta think a ground ball hit would mess up a ball more than a ball pitched in the dirt.

[dales]

Re: scuffed baseball question

Because a scuff on the baseball gives an advantage to the pitcher. He can use that to manipulate the way the ball moves.

And you are right about them not replacing after a ground ball. The reason is because a ground ball is not thrown into the ground but rather rolling (or bouncing) across it which almost never causes a scuff. Throwing a ball at 90+ MPH into the dirt will definitely cause one.

[snowmizer]

Re: scuffed baseball question

After any pitch in the dirt the catcher will get a new ball from the umpire. Any reason this happens? I mean don't they use a ball after a hit, you've gotta think a ground ball hit would mess up a ball more than a ball pitched in the dirt.

A major league pitch in the dirt is nearly guaranteed to scuff. A cleanly hit batted ball which never hits bare ground is not.

It wasn't that long ago that umpires would actually check the condition of a pitch in the dirt to see if it was still usable, but now it's automatic. They'll never face the possibility of putting one team at a disadvantage this way, so given the price of a baseball, it's probably a wise move.

[mgoblue]

Re: scuffed baseball question

thanks...didn't realize that a pitch in the dirt would be worse on a ball than other stuff, but makes sense when i think about it now.

[Blzer]

Re: scuffed baseball question

Top spin normally won't cause scuff. Ground balls are pretty much guaranteed to give yu top spin. The only top spin that will give you scuff is if it rides along the seam (curveballs have that kind of spin).

All other balls, when backspinned, especially at the angle given, cuts aong the dirt in such a way that it scuffs it.

Hard to explain... but that's why it's like how it is.