[cbfoulds]

Since it is not legal to pick-off from the windup in FED, and since I can think of no possible advantage of any kind that this starting position confers on the pitcher, this is, IMHO, booger-picking.

It also virtually guarantees you a high volume discussion with the pitching coach: I know this from personal experience. In a pre-season scrimage, I mentioned this precise issue to a coach, mentioning that, while I did not think anyone in my Assn. was likely to be penalizing this; based on comments at the state rules meetings, I was not sure about umps from other areas. Next thing I know I have the said pitching coach [an ex-AAA pitcher] in my grill wanting to know WTF I'm talking about, I [me] don't know what I'm talking about, that's not the Rule, that's they way I [the coach] teach them to pitch, yada, yada...