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Originally posted by CecilOne
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Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
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Another change is to allow the runner to leave the base in FP when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand OR "when the pivot foot leaves the pitching plate on the delivery."
The reason offered was that different pitching styles proved to be advantageous to some teams (?)
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So what, isn't sports about finding advantages?
Doesn't this imply that it's a lead in to eventually eliminating the requirement that pitchers push off only from the pitching plate?
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After reading Andy's explanation from the ASA National Staff, I am beginning to warm to this rule change. Clearly, (IMO) something needs to be done to address leaps, crow hops, etc.
Considering the momentum of established practice in the umpire community (including getting assigned games at the upper levels), perhaps ASA concluded that attacking it head-on with trying to place greater emphasis on enforcement of the rules as written would not get very far. In that light, this is a very creative approach. LHIW.