[simple simon]

i have noticed this season (im sure it has always been this way, i just watched a lot more baseball this year) that when a pitcher throws a pitch in the dirt, the catcher will have the umpire replace the ball for a fresh one .... im guessing this is because the ball may have been scuffed in the dirt and could give the pitcher an advantage

why is it they dont replace a grounder then .... surely a ball hit hard on the ground to the SS can be just as scuffed as a pitch thrown in the dirt

just something i think about while watching the game

[EmpireWF]

I would think they would change the ball after a grounder if they saw marks on the ball. The umps usually keep an eye out for stuff like that.