Pitchers hands are human hands. I know some fans may not agree, but the fact is that pitchers' hands get wet, or cold, and do not adhere to the ball properly.

In baseball, adding any kind of substance to the ball isn't allowed. Doing this could affect the spin or speed of the ball; this is considered unfair. A rosin bag is usually left on the field, behind the pitcher at the mound, for them to use on their hands only.

Rosin is used to make violin bows sticky so that they will vibrate a string, and the same substance is in use in baseball. It's a plant sap with amazing powers of stickery. In powdered form, in a white bag, the pitchers can dust it onto their hands before pitching.

While some pitchers use rosin for sweaty palms, or damp or cold conditions, others use it because it improves their control over a pitch. They can use the stickyness on their hands to direct the ball the way they want it to go more easily than if they were pitching without it.

Pitchers are permitted to rub the ball between their bare hands, and many use this to coat the ball with any excess rosin on their palms or fingertips. Recent controversy about the use of rosin has led to more scrutiny of its use.

Some pitchers will slap the rosin against their pants leg, and then wipe their hands there to dry them. Officially, in major league baseball, the rosin isn't allowed to touch anything but their pocket, the ground, or their hands. They are, however, allowed to put the bag in their pocket if the field is damp.

Learn more about this author, A.R. Marth.
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