Have you started handling/holding balls yet

[ArchAngel72]

With things beginning to loosen up a lot more  Myself as well as the UiC have both gone back to holding balls during our games.

Have you done this also?

 

[LMSANS]

HS baseball has been normal ball handling since the season started. HS softball has been each team has 4 balls and they are the only ones that touch them. They will continue through state playoffs. These are NJSIAA standards.

[Replacematt]

Umm...

[SH0102]

Never stopped!!

[ousafe]

Seattle area - HS baseballs supplied by defensive dugout.  Select/Club/Rec - umpire choice.  Did my first game handling baseballs last night and it took a couple foul balls before I got back into the rhythm.

[Velho]

San Jose LL here and we're back in business. My phantom grab is now gone.

[SeeingEyeDog]

For those not handling baseballs, I posted this awhile back...

~Dawg

 

[beerguy55]

Every morning and several times a day.

[MadMax]

Aside from the 3 adult-league games I called... solo... from behind the mound in April 2020, I have called every game since from behind the plate, and with all balls in my possession. 

COVID wasn’t and isn’t on the baseballs.

1 hour ago, beerguy55 said:

Every morning and several times a day.

[rhinolith]

Yes…that part is back to normal.

[MT73]

Yes—never stopped.

 

[Umpire942]

baseball always , softball, ew were not allowed

[Velho]

32 minutes ago, Umpire942 said:

softball, ew were not allowed

"ew"? What, the girls have cooties? 😜

[Biscuit]

Started last June...

[HokieUmp]

I have said this here before, but ....

[aaluck]

On 6/10/2021 at 12:10 PM, ArchAngel72 said:

With things beginning to loosen up a lot more  Myself as well as the UiC have both gone back to holding balls during our games.

Have you done this also?

We never stopped here.

[StatsUmp]

In Michigan, umpires had the option of handling balls or letting the home team be responsible for them this year.

In the first game I umpired this season, I opted to let the home team handle them. In all subsequent games, my partners always chose to handle game balls, so I eventually did the same for the rest of the season because I felt like I was the odd person out. In those games, I sanitized my hands between games, after games, and even between half-innings when I was able after putting a different ball into play.