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Bob, yes, the umpire feeds the machine. There is no pitching rubber, however. If Cal Ripken rules wanted the umpire to be considered the pitcher in this rule, then why don't they say so? I think they don't because they've already stated that there is no stealing in machine pitch. If there is no stealing, then the kid would not be taking off for the next base before the pitch anyway, would he? Or, is the intention of this rule that you can get a huge lead (since there is no pitcher to keep them in check) and take the risk that you will limit your progress on a extra base hit? If that is the case, then why? Why would you add such a rule? Simply to make things more confusing? Shouldn't they just not be able to leave the base until the ball crosses the plate and that's it? At least until they are playing kid pitch, where this is all a different story?
Also, unless the league has already stated so in their exceptions, then this rule should be interpreted as is, right? As is, the pitcher never has the ball on the rubber.
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