Quote:
Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
I think you are referring to the same thing which happens in SP when the pitcher raises the heel during the delivery, yet the remainder of the foot never moves off the set position.
It seems to me that if this can be absolutely determined to be prior to the delivery, it is illegal. If it is a motion that occurs so quickly that you just aren't sure which came first, you have a legal pitch.
And I mean the umpire must SEE this, not just assume it happened, to make this call.
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I agree with this philosophically - like an out - only call it if you see it. The IP call can have a significant penalty with runner on base, and especially with a runner on third, so the umpire should never guess at an IP call.
I also agree with the "don't warn - just call it" in Championship play, at least. However, in lower level play with younger kids, I will almost always inform the coach of technical violations between innings so the pitcher can work on them. (Actual, intentional violations are another matter, and while not perfect at reading intent, I can tell the difference in many cases.) I never "warn" about an IP (even though I threatened to earlier). I either inform the coach so he can work on it, or I call it.
However, I firmly disagree with Roger and those who agree with his view that this is a legal pitch. A drawing of legal foot positioning at the start of the pitch in the NFHS book does not supercede the clear ASA Rule 6, bolstered by the definition of a crow hop in Rule 1, that the point of impetus and push off must be the pitching plate and nowhere else. Positioning of the foot can be legal or illegal; legal foot positioning does not mean everything after that is by definition legal.
OTOH, I am back to the significant penalty that the IP call can result in and the relatively minor violation this is.
OTOH, it is clearly coached in most cases, and therefore could just as easily be coached to be legal. Move your foot back a bit, pitcher, and then you'll push off from the plate. Or, slide your foot sideways to push off instead of rock forward. Whatever... just push off from the plate.
It bugs me every time I've seen it, and it bugs me more that I don't call it, since I have this nagging feeling that I should call it but don't just because I don't want the hassle.
There. True confessions.
It bugs me enough I was just wondering what others did.