Quote:
|
Originally Posted by mbcrowder
There are a great number of umpires who do not recognize preliminary motions as part of the motion... hence the term preliminary, which means before. If it's preliminary, then by definition, it's not part of.
The basis for this belief stems from the comment in the book that the pitching regulations do not begin until the pitcher steps on the rubber. It's not a matter of stupidity or ignorance to be on this side of the argument.
|
Before assuming Set Position, the pitcher may elect to make any natural preliminary motion such as that known as “the stretch.” But if he so elects, he shall come to Set Position before delivering the ball to the batter.
Are you saying there are a great number of umpires who do not recognize the stretch as part of a pitchers motion to pitch? If the pitching regulations begin only when the pitcher is engaged on the rubber, the constraints found in article 5 are worthless. I'll argue till I'm blue in the face that the pitching regulations must begin before the pitcher toes the rubber. Otherwise, straddling the rubber without the ball could never be called a balk.
Tim.