[ozzy6900]

Protest the call next time! Your umpire is mis-applying the rules. There is nothing deceiving about F1 standing on the rubber with his hands together. The problem is most of your amateur umpires believe that F1 cannot pick off from the windup. That is only in FED! In NCAA and OBR, F1 can pick off from the windup.

Here's the difference:

FED
When in the windup position, the pitcher may:
1. Deliver the pitch to the batter
2. Step off the rubber with the pivot foot first.

OBR & NCAA (this includes LL)
From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides).
In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first.
He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.

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Show the differences to the protest committee and maybe they will be enlightened!

Or, just save yourself the aggravation and tell your pitchers to step off!