Why do pitchers "rub up" a baseball? (serious question)

frankhardy

Why do pitchers rub up a baseball? Is it to get the sweat off of their hands?

I know, this has to be the post of the year!

Barndog

to get a better grip.

Hyperion

just trying to rough up the ball a bit, maybe as much psychological as anything else...

stown

When balls first come in from the factory, they are shiny and slick. The ball boys will dirty them up a bit and then it's up to the pitcher to clean or dirty some more.

Long story short: squeaky clean = bad grip without any friction. A tad roughed up = great grip

stown

A lot of teams use this:

baseball mud

MICHAELDIXON

I coach 12 under baseball. Whenever I give the pitcher a new ball, I tell him to ruff it up so he can grip it better. As somebody said, they come out of the box smooth and shiney. This smooth and shiney doesn't do much for the pitcher's grip.

CrimsonTider

Pitcher like to play with balls, its that simple.

MICHAELDIXON

"Pitcher like to play with balls, its that simple."

CrimsonTider,
You aren't right!

DaBeef

Just saw the Smoltz highlights, never heard a pitcher complain about that before...

Treetop

Shane, obviously you've never held a new baseball. LOL!

billwaltonsbeard

They're putting Crisco or Vagisil on the ball while they're rubbing it. Or if the ump's watching them really close, they'll rub a little jalapeno in their nose to get it running.

frankhardy

<< <i>Just saw the Smoltz highlights, never heard a pitcher complain about that before... >>



Ironically, my post had absolutely nothing to do with the Smoltz comments.

digicat

Pitchers usually don't complain because they're allowed to rub the ball up to build up a little grip. Try handling a baseball that's fresh from the box. They're usually kinda slick. Hold like you're gonna throw a pitch and see how it feels in your hands. Now rub it up like the pitchers do and then see how it feels. Doing so improves your grip on the ball and lets you control it better when it's about to leave your hand during a pitch. It also warms the ball up a little, but I don't know how much that matters.

MICHAELDIXON

I asked my son tonight why he rubs a new baseball. He said it feels like it has wax on it and he wants to get to the leather so he can grip it better.

otwcards

Keep in mind that ALL Major League balls are rubbed up with the Delaware Mud by the umpires before the game. Oft times, pitchers will rub the ball up to ensure that they get the feel and the grip that they want. Back in the early 1970's there was a pitcher, although I cannot recall who, that used to have his catcher rub up the ball because he claimed he would get blisters.

On another note, watch the Yankees when Sabathia pitches and you will notice that he has two quirks. One, he will never catch a ball thrown from an infielder after an out in his glove. He will always use his bare hand. Second, he will never accept a ball thrown by the umpire. He insists that any ball put into play after a foul be given to his catcher to return to him. I remember one game a few years back when he was with Cleveland when the umpire threw the ball to C.C. and he let it go past him and it rolled past second base and into short centerfield.

Dboneesq

<< <i>Why do pitchers rub up a baseball? >>


Because none of the female fans volunteer!!!