# MLB. Batters passing time between pitches. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678 "2013-08-08T03:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/1 "2013-08-08T03:24:56Z")
Apparently the Velcro batting gloves need constant adjusting. Have you seen more creative ways batters use to pass the time between pitches? ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/2 "2013-08-08T03:33:04Z")
Spitting is a time-tested favorite. Willie Stargell used to swing his bat like a windmill. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/3 "2013-08-08T13:48:53Z")
Nomar’s famous [toe dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhRPdHJRDF0) used to drive us (as fans) nuts, to say nothing of the opposing pitcher! ---
**Author:** ![BGJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@BGJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BGJack)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/4 "2013-08-08T13:56:59Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Apparently the Velcro batting gloves need constant adjusting. Have you seen more creative ways batters use to pass the time between pitches? Yeah, checking their family jewels. I guess to make sure they are still there. In the case of A-Roid, I’m not so sure. I like the guys who don’t wear batting gloves like Evan Gattis. He gets right to hacking away. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/5 "2013-08-08T14:07:06Z")
Wish I could remember which announcer it was but one of them said the invention of velcro added at least 20 minutes to every MLB game. ---
**Author:** ![BGJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@BGJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BGJack)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/6 "2013-08-09T16:46:38Z")
Last night I was paying particular attention to Miguel Cabrera when he was up with the bases loaded and nobody out. Ball one. Before the next pitch he adjusted his jock strap, if he was wearing one, three times. He must have distracted the pitcher because he got three more balls. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-batters-passing-time-between-pitches/665678/7 "2013-08-09T17:14:34Z")
> [@BGJack](#): > > He must have distracted the pitcher because he got three more balls. For a total of _five_? 😃