Quote:
Originally Posted by MD Longhorn
Mike, are you saying that if a pitcher started her delivery, and the batter stepped out ... then the pitcher, thinking time was called, failed to deliver the pitch --- you would call an illegal pitch?
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Not always by the rules, but my question is, why not? IMO, that is a sign of poor coaching. A pitcher, regardless of which game is being played should always finish a delivery once started. Heard it all my sporting life, is there any reason that should change?
And how do you determine it was "meant" to cause an IP? (ASA) If the pitcher starts his/her delivery and looks up and sees the batter just standing there an leaning on the bat, you going to call an IP if the pitcher doesn't deliver the ball? What if the batter is just standing there, bat on shoulder looking away from the pitcher? Gonna call that an IP if the pitcher doesn't throw the ball? Are you going to warn the batter every time a pitcher reacts to their presence or lack of preparedness? There is no rule requiring the batter to take a certain posture in the BB or to stay there once the pitcher starts the delivery.
Yes, we all know that this is something that you will recognize when you see it, but that is because many players can play better than act.
And what is it with the "hold up the hand" crap? Who cares? Since when it that anything more than a player holding up their hand? Even if you accept that as a request for time, it is to the umpire, not the pitcher, so why is it an issue even raised in the rule? That is as ambiguous as a "play" on an LBR anything to which the runner reacts.
No, I'm not saying I would or would not always call an IP, but I am certainly going to use some common sense when applying any portion of the rule IF I think it is necessary to apply it at all.