I watched a 3A sub-state game this evening where a well known pitcher was allowed to have a large towel behind the pitcher's mound, next to the rosin bag.
He went to the towel frequently between pitches, wiping his throwing hand, both arms and glove with the towel. He especially went to the towel when he sailed a pitch or tossed it in the dirt. It nearly always made a difference in the control of his next pitch, especially his breaking stuff.
The towel was there for all pitchers to take advantage of, however, he was the only one that used it. This includes members of his own team that came in relief.
I can't believe this is legal as I've never seen it occur at any level of play. Further, it did give him a clear advantage. Yet, I can't find a single exclusionary section in the rule book to say it's illegal.
So I toss it out to the collective wisdom of the group - is field access to a pitcher's towel, in addtion to a rosin bag, legal for a pitcher to go to?
.
He went to the towel frequently between pitches, wiping his throwing hand, both arms and glove with the towel. He especially went to the towel when he sailed a pitch or tossed it in the dirt. It nearly always made a difference in the control of his next pitch, especially his breaking stuff.
The towel was there for all pitchers to take advantage of, however, he was the only one that used it. This includes members of his own team that came in relief.
I can't believe this is legal as I've never seen it occur at any level of play. Further, it did give him a clear advantage. Yet, I can't find a single exclusionary section in the rule book to say it's illegal.
So I toss it out to the collective wisdom of the group - is field access to a pitcher's towel, in addtion to a rosin bag, legal for a pitcher to go to?
.