Pitching Question

I know that it is rare to get an umpire to call an illegal pitch during a game. I have seen it a couple of times over the years. This week I saw a right handed pitcher, when she gets ready to deliver her pitch, she slides her right foot all the way to the left edge of the rubber and then delivers her pitch. That forces her left leg to come outside of the pitching zone. Isn't that an illegal pitch? And how much advantage does that give a pitcher, if any?

 

If her stride foot lands outside the 24in width of the rubber, it's illegal. Not called very often though.
I don't think it would create a huge advantage depending on what type of pitch she's throwing. I would say it would be most advantageous with a good screwball.

 

I've seen it lots of times, we were at myrtle last fall and a girl on a georgia team was way out oy the 24 to the right throwing a curve but was never called. I talked to a ump that was just watching the game and he said it was illegal but rarely called

 

Illegal

I've had it called against us in TB. Its not called often though. If its blatant I could understand. In our situation the coach went so far as to walk ump out the mound and point where the foot print was. Supposedly if any part of the foot is within the 24" she is still in the lane, but he said "if any part is outside lane it's illegal". She was trying to create more spin on a curve with it. If they called every illegal pitch the game would never end.

 

I disagree.

If they called every illegal pitch, then the pitchers would quit pitching illegally. They will get tired of watching baserunners get free bases. As long as they're allowed to pitch illegally, why bother following the rules.

Same thing applies to obstruction.

 

I've seen an overpowering pitcher early in the HS season throw illegally and it was called 2 times in a row. She was leaning back and stepping forward as she went to pitch coming completely off the rubber when she stepped forward. She dropped about 5 mph on her speed to pitch legal.

2 years ago I saw a coach trying to get an umpire to call a crowhop. The pitcher only did it on a couple of types of pitches and her coach laughed and told her to start dragging her toe on all pitches. She would pitch this way each game until called on it.

I have seen an umpire tell a coach that the pitcher wasn't gaining an advantage on a leap so he wouldn't call it.

So I've seen it both ways. I wish it was called consistantly. The pitchers will pitch legal when it's called.

 

It needs to be called

Every pitcher needs to be legal, PERIOD. If you are going to have rules, they must be consistently enforced, PERIOD. Why should a pitcher stay legal if others get away with illegal pitching?? Umpires need to call it, during the season, during travel ball and during rec ball. They are not helping any kid by letting them pitch illegally.

Last year in state playoffs for HS, we faced a crow hopper, pretty obvious to me and anyone that knows pitching that she was not legal. I spoke to a parent standing next to me and he mentioned that he was an umpire. I asked him if he would not call her illegal and he said, "not during the regular season". That does not make any sense at all but that is what he said. ????? I love to get pictures of them "flying" and then have someone say, "She's not off the ground". I have plenty of pictures of crow hopping from past NSA World Series especially.

 

Typically coaches/fans don't start complaining until their team gets behind in the score, say the 3rd or 4th inning. The umpire will never call it then because he would be admitting he allowed illegal pitches for half the game. If your going to complain/protest you better do it on the first batter she faces. After that your stuck with it for the rest of the day.

 

YEP !!

I know who you are referring to,and I don't understand why they don't fix it...she is a great pitcher,but habits are getting set,and it will be hard to change if not fixed now !!!




Guru

 

I am really not referring to anyone specifically, really. Not looking to rattle anybody's cage, I swear I just hate it when we face someone that is not legal and everybody just goes "hmmm". Actually in school ball, I have been happy with everyone we have faced this year and haven't seen anyone that was not legal.