Defacing the Ball

[CoachCeetar]

Also isn't the penalty for an illegal pitch that's hit a ball or the result of the play if batter/runners advance 1 base?

 

[dogpatch]

The term defacing is used in the rulebook, you just looked in the wrong area as its not in the pitching rule section. Its in the Rule 1 under softballs. I am guessing those casebook rulings help clarify that rubbing the ball in the dirt is what they consider defacing so naturally rubbing the ball in the ground would be considered that too. Just like how we dont let them drop the ball on the ground and step on the ball with their cleats.

Now for those who going to say, well coaches "rub" up game balls all the time whats wrong with that. Well that is done before they submit the game balls to the umpires and then after we get to look them over to make sure they are legal.

Thanks for pointing out rule 1. However, ruling that a pitcher who rubs dirt on the ball is defacing it under rule 1-3-6 is a real stretch since it is referring to 1-3-3 which has to do with ball specifications.

If a pitcher "defacing the ball" simply by rubbing dirt on it in the circle during a game is to be enforced by umpires, there must be a definition in the rule book telling exactly what is meant by defacing along with a rule telling umpires what and how to enforce. Still waiting for someone to point to a "defacing" rule in the softball rule book that actually applies.

Defacing a ball with dirt IS addressed in the baseball rule book. But we are not playing baseball. Likewise, this type of "defacing" IS addressed in NCAA softball rules. But we are not playing under college rules.

 

[Comp]

One more time, not everything is printed verbatim in the rulebook. That's why there are case plays and rule interpretations. You already have the applicable rule interpretation, that is how it is to be called

 

[SoulFY]

Thanks for pointing out rule 1. However, ruling that a pitcher who rubs dirt on the ball is defacing it under rule 1-3-6 is a real stretch since it is referring to 1-3-3 which has to do with ball specifications.

If a pitcher "defacing the ball" simply by rubbing dirt on it in the circle during a game is to be enforced by umpires, there must be a definition in the rule book telling exactly what is meant by defacing along with a rule telling umpires what and how to enforce. Still waiting for someone to point to a "defacing" rule in the softball rule book that actually applies.

Defacing a ball with dirt IS addressed in the baseball rule book. But we are not playing baseball. Likewise, this type of "defacing" IS addressed in NCAA softball rules. But we are not playing under college rules.

So based on what you are saying it's okay for pitchers to cut the ball because it's okay for players to deface the ball because it's not changing the ball specifications and not specifically define in the rulebook?

 

[SoulFY]

One more time, not everything is printed verbatim in the rulebook. That's why there are case plays and rule interpretations. You already have the applicable rule interpretation, that is how it is to be called

Our search continues!! Bet no one ever looked at rule 10 either hahaha. 10-2-3-f mentions defacement of the ball is under the plate umpires enforcement

 

[dogpatch]

Also isn't the penalty for an illegal pitch that's hit a ball or the result of the play if batter/runners advance 1 base?

Some illegal pitch infractions are immediate dead ball, others are delayed dead ball. Infractions involving the application of "non-approved substances" is immediate DB.

 

[dogpatch]

Our search continues!! Bet no one ever looked at rule 10 either hahaha. 10-2-3-f mentions defacement of the ball is under the plate umpires enforcement

Thanks for citing a rule that could be related. However, still looking for an actual definition of "defacing the ball". If a pitcher simply rubs dirt on the ball, how can an umpire determine that the ball was "defaced" without stopping the game and inspecting the ball? In the absence of some definition that states otherwise, the ball is not "defaced" until it actually IS defaced.

 

[dogpatch]

So based on what you are saying it's okay for pitchers to cut the ball because it's okay for players to deface the ball because it's not changing the ball specifications and not specifically define in the rulebook?

That is exactly what I am saying. Until the NFHS rules committee does a better job writing rules, defacing is ambiguous in high school softball. Other sanctions actually have clear rules regarding defacing.

 

[earlg3]

It seems the intent was certainly to deface the ball, so is the effectiveness of the illegal action applicable for enforcement?

 

[bsbs]

It kind of seems like the intent was to get some grip on the ball.