Quote:
Originally Posted by john5396
The text indicates that the hybrid stance is illegal because the set position requires the entire pivot foot to be in front of or in contact with or directly in front of the rubber.
So this hybrid stance is illegal because the pivot foor toe is not in contact with the rubber.
|
That's just wrong. Here's the complete sentence from 6-1-3, which defines the set:
"Before starting his delivery, he shall stand with his entire nonpivot
foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate
and
with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of the pitcher’s
plate."
So his entire pivot foot must be either in contact with or directly in front of the rubber. The "hybrid stance" image posted above is legal: the entire pivot foot is either in contact with or directly in front of the rubber.
The purpose of the provision is to keep F1 on the rubber: it is NOT legal to have just the toes or just the heel directly in front of the rubber, with the rest of the foot extending beyond the side edge. That lets F1 pitch at an angle, which is a significant advantage.
Nobody in NC or any other state will ever see F1's foot closely enough to enforce that interpretation of the rule. And the problem with the hybrid stance in any case is that pitchers wind up from it, not that they use it in the set.