Go Rays!!!

[Rich]

What position in the team do these two take?

 

[georgedwilkinson]

Bat girls.

 

[Rich]

They put a shine on the bats?

 

[MrsGorilla]

Bat girls.

I was going to say ball girls.

 

[georgedwilkinson]

Even better.

 

[Rich]

I was going to say ball girls.

They shine the balls?

 

[MrsGorilla]

They shine the balls?

I'm sure they must.

 

[Rich]

I'm sure they must.

Doesn't the surface have to be roughened a little first though before polishing?

 

[statsman]

Before each game, the Umpires take some earth and rub it into the baseballs to remove the shine on the new baseballs. Only new balls are used for a game. Makes the ball easier to see. Used balls are retained by the home team and used for practice.
The "ball girls" retrieve foul balls (out of play) before they reach the stands. At the end of each inning, they give them back to the umpire who determines if they are still fit for play. If yes, they are returned to play, if no, they become practice balls. The umpires are required to have 144 balls ready for each game. Only one ball is used at a time.

There are two leagues, the American and National. The American League uses "Rawlings" balls, the National uses "Spalding". The dimensions and specifications for both balls are identical. In fact, they are both made in the same factory. Half are stamped "Rawlings", half are stamped "Spalding".

 

[speakers_86]

Oh, Im sure there's a few positions they could be in.

 

[KenHigg]

There are two leagues, the American and National. The American League uses "Rawlings" balls, the National uses "Spalding". The dimensions and specifications for both balls are identical. In fact, they are both made in the same factory. Half are stamped "Rawlings", half are stamped "Spalding".

I did not know that - Thanks

Now I can be a appear to be a baseball expert when I toss that into a 'series' discusion around the watercooler...

 

[speakers_86]

Rays are looking good in game 4. Score is 5-1 in the 3rd. If they win, then the series is 3-1, a big hole to climb out of for anyteam!

In the NL, Phillie leads the series 3-1.

 

[boblarson]

The mud that they use to rough up the balls with is Blackburn's Delaware River Mud. It has been used for over 80 years and is the only sanctioned mud that the umpires can use in the Major Leagues.

 

[statsman]

I was going to add that Bob, but I thought I's shown off enough for one day (and I forgot the name of the mud).

 

[KenHigg]

And I don't think the umpires rub 'em up, I think it's the home team - ?

 

[statsman]

The Umpires according to Ron Luciano (The Umpire Strikes Back). Once rubbed up they are kept in a locked bag in the home dugout.

I can't see baseball allowing anything that would give one team a possible advantage or even the appearance of an advantage.