wristband on pitcher's glove forearm

Take it off

NFHS rule book says pitcher can't wear anything on his arms that "is distracting to the hitter."
Seems rather ambiguous to me. Umpire's judgment?

Its call game management. As an ump, if you tell the pitcher to remove the wrist ban, then I as the ump have avoided any unnecessary problems later on in the game.

Yes, it is the umpires judgemnet, and my judgement is always to take them off.

I was at a game where the pitcher had long sleeves on his pitching arm, and no sleeve on his glove arm. As a spectator it was distracting, could a ump require a change of uniform on that?

NC Dad,

Yes, the umpire should make the pitcher change or remove the undershirt. Rules specify that sleeves of each individual player shall be approximately the same length and shall not be ragged, frayed or slit. If the pitchers sleeves are exposed, they shall not be white or gray. Also; a pitcher shall not wear any items on his hands, wrists or arms which may be distracting to the batter.

Pilsner-

Great call.

sweat band on the wrist strap on a glove?...If the band distracts a batter and he complains, and I agree its distracting, off it comes.

But at the higher levels (HS college) "preventative" umpiring is not met with much approval and cooperation from the coaching ranks. Rule on the game and situations as they come up, dont go looking for things to rule on.

piaa,

I believe the post said the band was on the pitcher's forearm on the glove side. Also, has there been a time when a batter complained about something of this nature to you (as a distraction) and you disagreed with him and allowed it?

On the forearm not the glove.. got it.......I misread.......thats a bit different.

Its taken me a moment to think over the years and I can only think of once where I determined the item non distracting.....and quite honestly it was a head game between a coaches who had no love lost between themselves.

It was in the seventh inning when the coach of the Batter complained about a black batting glove under the pitchers black pitching glove. You could not even see the batting glove under the fielding glove......I said play on....

I will pretty much go along if its reasonable and as my history shows most times it has been. But I am the one who must be convinced.

Agreed. I don't rule on things like this either unless someone complains. If there is no complaint then apparently it's not distracting.

I failed to mention that the batting team complained to me(home plate umpire) that the black wristband on the pitcher's glove forearm was distracting while the pitcher was warming from the game mound to start the game. It would not be an issue if the opposing team had not mentioned it to me. I did not have the pitcher remove it because it did not seem distracting to me.

bigcatgc,

I agree that for a team to say an item is distracting before they even have a batter in the box is a stretch. And it is true that ultimately it is up to you to determine if the item is distracting. However, you will also have to deal with the possible fallout from your decision.

Are you allowing only black wrist bands or any color wrist bands? Are you allowing wrist bands only on the glove forearm or either forearm? Are you allowing only wristbands or tape also?

I've found that in these cases it is best for me (as the umpire) and best for the game flow (no more questions) and ultimately best for future games (I could draw this team again) to just have the pitcher remove the item and be done with it. I've never had a coach argue about a pitcher having to remove an item from his hands or arms under the rules.

Pilsner, as you discribe the possible situations that could evolve are endless. That is why our association determines that it is distracting, and have it removed once we see it.

Its good game management.
It keeps the coaches in the dugout.
It avoids any contrevery(sp.
And ultimately keeps every one in the game.

Although I do not always agree with pre-emptive or preventative umpiring, I do agree with following your local chapters direction.

Anyone who umpires HS and higher baseball is well served by understanding and following the real world dynamics of the local chapter.