Pitching Question

Guess you haven't played Millbrook...

It was a JV game but Millbrook's second pitcher had a very bad crow hop. She jumped at least 2 inches high, both feet were off the ground, and she landed a good 6 inches away from the mound, dug her foot in and released the ball. As soon as she took the mound and started warming up I informed (some would say I yelled... ) the plate umpire and our coach that she was totally illegal. I even had our coach speak to the umpire after the inning. Not sure what happened in that exchange but she kept doing it on every pitch and he never called it.

Like others have said in this thread, if they don't call it, the girls will never learn and they will eventually run into an ump that will call it and it will totally mess them up.

Having said that, I also have to place some blame on the coaches here. They should know it is illegal and should be working with the girls to correct it. On our middle school team we make sure that the girls are pitching legal and correct them if they are not.

 

Maybe coach dobbins can fill us in, but my understanding is that a "crow hop" is a misnomer. There is either a "skip" or a replant. Have seen a million girls replant not limited to but including Cat Osterman and Monica Abbot. Saw it called on Cat once. A "skip" actually hurts the pitcher because she is not getting full force behind her throw, however a replant is a tremendous advantage no matter if the replant comes after the stride or before.

 

A "good ump" story

I guess this would be a good thread to post this one on so here it goes. I don't know about everyone else's experience, but it seems as though the jv games are called very differently than those at the varsity level. I agree that the umpiring hasn't been the greatest this year, but I would like to brag a little on the two that called our game last week. The plate umpire had a consistent strike zone for the whole game and the best part was that it was a true strike zone, nothing expanded because it was jv. The field umpire called 3 (yes 3) illegal pitches, 2 against us and 1 against the other team. He was exactly right on each one and told both coaches, "get them to fix it or will be a long game". Guess what, both pitchers fixed it and benefited from a game being called the way it should always be called.

In conversation with the umpires after the game, the field umpire even stated "coach, I hate that I had to call it but she has to learn that she can't do that and it's part of the rules". I told him the sad thing about it was that the games aren't normally called at that level nor with that consistency. I won't mention their names, but the plate umpire calls a lot of tb games. Unfortunately, I probably won't see them until the summer since we were playing an out-of-county/non-conference game.

 

Good Umps

Nice post Max. There really are some good Umps out there. Unfortunately sometimes people, myself included, focus on perceived mistakes. To me the truth is, how a rule is interpeted and how we WANT it interpeted, depends on what is most beneficial to our team/DD at the time. When OUR team is on the field, we want a big strike zone, all the interference calls, all the close plays. and every pitch to be legal. Guess what, sometimes a call is just missed. Doesn't mean the Ump is terrible. What if every time we drove through a traffic light that turned red just as our front bumper got under it, we got a ticket or everyone started honking and yelling at us. No matter what, when an Ump makes any call, at least half the people there thinks he missed it.

 

Well Said !!!!

 

Umps

We had 2 very good blues at CC-Robinson game last nite. Blue behind the plate called the "proper strike zone" & was consistant. It was refreshing to have some good umps after what we have been stuck with so far. Is it not to much to ask for a strike zone that is in accordance with the rule book, not just down the middle, or up high cause I can't bend over to see those low balls. Whoever the 2 we had last nite are, they should be commended !!

 

A crow hop is a replant.. basically a forward hop or step off the pitching rubber by the pivot foot.....Gives the pitcher a second push point.
It is a no-no in women's softball.

Leaping, which is often confused with the crow hop, is actually the failure to drag the pivot foot... You basically have both feet off the ground at the same time. Leaping is illegal.... Pivot foot must be dragged along the ground or plane of the ground ( if there is a hole ) until the stride foot lands.
Allot of pitchers get accused of crow hopping or leaping due to the hole in front of the pitching plate.. Remember, we pitch off " flat " mounds...
Just because you see air, doesn't mean it is a crow hop or leap...


The "skip" is most often seen by "step style" pitchers... Often taught to
direct their powerline a little off center of home plate to take advantage
of a big close of the hips / core area..
This is legal as long as they stay with the width of the pitching plate and stay in contact with the ground...

They are actually pivoting as they drag their feet...

Without " crow hoppers" what would we have to blame our lack of hitting on....
Swing the bat..........

 

Per the National Federation of State High School Associations.

LEAPING
CROW HOP
24" Width Violation

There are more...

I dont remember who posted the original link to this website, but everyone should book mark it, it is good stuff.
http://www.nfhs.org/web/2008/02/softball_video_clips__training.aspx

 

I know of a area pitcher who has always "crow hopped" when pitching (pivot foot lifts off the rubber, lands on the ground in front of the rubber and then pushes off during the release). Most of the time when I saw it, she'd land an inch in front of the rubber, and was pretty much a textbook case for the umpires who say "she's gaining no advantage."

A few times, I've seen opposing coaches ask the umpires about it while she's taking warm up pitches before the first inning. Normally it results in the umpire having a conversation with the pitcher and her coaches. After this, the pitcher tries to conform to the letter of the rules... for that inning. Which costs her concentration and, I think, a couple of miles an hour. Which, IMHO, the best opposing coaches can hope for as far as enforcement. And normally, by the second inning, she's back to her normal delivery.

Last time I saw her pitch, she was landing at least a foot in front of the rubber, which is like adding a mile an hour to the pitch. And no, not a word from the umpires or the opposition.

I've discussed this with various "knowledgable individuals" and have been told that some of the top pitchers from leading programs have worse crow hops that are never called. Makes me want to take in one of their games.

 

I especially like the last part about without crow-hoppers
JUST SWING THE BAT !!!!