Quote:
Originally Posted by RKBUmp
Just turned on the game in the top of the 4th, S Florida pitcher just got called for a couple of illegal pitches for leaping. Talking heads blabbing on and on about how leaping is not gaining an advantage, it is actually a disadvantage.
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The energy they are using to lift themselves airborne IS wasted, and they WOULD gain an advantage over leaping if they COULD exert that same energy horizontally toward the batter.
would... could... that is where the scientific analysis falls apart. The leaping pitcher is willing to sacrifice that bit of vertical force to gain a bit more horizontal force.
IOW, the vertical force IS wasted energy; in that aspect the THs are correct. But, the pitcher IS gaining an advantage since she is also gaining a bit more horizontal force (i.e. she is not jumping straight up!). So, the "no advantage" claim is incorrect.