Balls

[frankbmd]

Mentioned before here, but routinely discarding any ball that hits the dirt around home plate without even looking at it has become the norm. However a ball grounded to the infield and then thrown to first still gets tossed around the horn and then back to the pitcher. Why isn't this ball discarded as well?

With more pitchers seemingly spiking curve balls than in the past, frequently 3 or 4 ball changes in a single at bat can certainly happen. Therefore how many balls are required to complete a game? If I am not mistaken the number of balls required to be on hand for a game back in the day (I won't say which day) was 60. Today 60 might not last three innings.

I also wonder if the discarded balls are examined and are recycled to re-enter the game if they look "good". But if this is true, who is the ball checker? Home plate umpires used to look at questionable balls, but now they just get tossed without a glance.

Feel free to comment, answer a question or express your own musings about balls in today's game.

[Leon]

I think they use too many. Spare the balls!

[MrSeven]

Pitchers want used/scuffed/dirty baseballs. The scuffs on the baseball make controlling various breaking balls easier.

I think reusing a baseball that went in play is a clever way around the MLB rule that the baseball is supposed to be free of any foreign substance (including dirt). If a ball gets scuffed or dirty per the rules it needs to be replaced.

If the baseball never goes close to home plate and the umpire, the pitcher is likely going to be able to get away with using that baseball for one more pitch.

[bnorth]

I seen an article a couple years ago that the Twins equipment manager said they go through around 100 balls per game. When they are thrown to the side they never reenter the game. They are either sent to the minor league teams or used for batting practice.

[Prof_Plum]

With regards to other pro sports, chime in if you have the answer or can clarify ....

golf balls - Don't the pros use a new one every 3 to 6(?) holes ?

footballs - I know each team brings several balls for their offense and several(?) balls for kicking. I'm guessing they use the same kicking balls for punts and kickoffs(?).

tennis balls - I know they replace a used ball with new after so many games; just not sure what that number is. Is the number different for each court type (i.e. hard surface, grass, clay).

hockey pucks - I have no idea how often they're replaced. I can't imagine it's due to damage but rather to get a new 'frozen' puck.

basketball and soccer - One ball for everything and the entire game, I'd guess.

road racing - I don't know much about the sport other than cars go fast around a track. How often do they change tires ? Guess it might depend on the weather and the characteristics of each track.

[frankbmd]

With regards to other pro sports, chime in if you have the answer or can clarify ....

golf balls - Don't the pros use a new one every 3 to 6(?) holes ?

footballs - I know each team brings several balls for their offense and several(?) balls for kicking. I'm guessing they use the same kicking balls for punts and kickoffs(?).

tennis balls - I know they replace a used ball with new after so many games; just not sure what that number is. Is the number different for each court type (i.e. hard surface, grass, clay).

hockey pucks - I have no idea how often they're replaced. I can't imagine it's due to damage but rather to get a new 'frozen' puck.

basketball and soccer - One ball for everything and the entire game, I'd guess.

road racing - I don't know much about the sport other than cars go fast around a track. How often do they change tires ? Guess it might depend on the weather and the characteristics of each track.

If tennis on a clay court was baseball, they would have to use a new ball for every serve. (provided the serve didn't land in the stands.:D)

[bravos4evr]

I believe that MLB made a point of encouraging more used balls being tossed to fans ,post strike, and this is why nearly every ball fouled to a base coach is out of play, often the last out of an inning too.