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"In the situation of the small (legal) leap followed by a replant and second push - haven't the hands already separated before the second push?"
YES.
"Wasn't the pivot foot legally on the plate at the time of the separation of the hands?"
YES. Can you have a legal leap and then an illegal CH? Technically, I suppose so. But it is hard to imagine if the pivot foot doesn't get high enough for you to call a leap that you will see a "re-push." I think that it is simply going to 'drag' on its return to terra firma.
When the Leap was still legal the ASA rules actually allowed for the pivot foot to land (replant) first, but it was an umpire's judgment whether the foot landing was a "slide and drag" to the side (legal), or a "re-push" (illegal). It is fairly easy to see the difference. You see a smooth continuous motion when the foot slides to the side and quickly the stride foot lands and the ball is delivered. When you have a "re-push" the knee buckles and straightens, the body moves forward a second time with the stride foot still in the air and there is this funny little "hopping" motion before the stride foot lands and the ball is delivered.
Personally, what I see in girl's pitching today is the "slide and drag" which would have been legal under the old rules. Whether or not we are going to call a leap is another matter, but I just never see a re-push.
"and I'm trying to visualize pitching mechanics. WMB - did you used to pitch fastpitch?"
YES. In the 60's and early 70's, back when FP was the game in West Michigan. But I was never a leaper. When I tried, my pivot foot always landed first and I got called for CH! So I never developed the blazing speed that many had. I stayed on the ground and focused on control. I was an average pitcher, but it was fun in those years. When I quit, I was done. I never could accept the SP style; too many of the challenges of the game (hitting, bunting, stealing) were gone.
I think that a lot of young men feel that way today, as FP seems to be making a comeback. Within a 30 min drive of my place are several parks with Men's FP leagues playing two nights a week. One park even has a Women's FP league. I can stay busy all summer without having to cross over to SP.
WMB
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