Quote:
Originally Posted by Little Jimmy
Taken literally, it would seem that just about any motion used by the pitcher without immediately pitching would be illegal. Example (modified version of OP): Hands apart as she gets on plate. Pivot foot on and non pivot toe on plate with heel raised. Pause, then hands together at chest. Pause again. Then hands drop to thighs while she leans back (no step back). Then hands (still together) raise slowly above head, slight pause and then separation with movement toward plate and release.
This motion is more straightforward than the OP, and seems relatively common. But if this motion is considered windup, then she has certainly stopped and reversed. Would you call this pitch illegal under Utrip or Fed?
|
Fed and U-trip are less literal than ASA as to when the pitch begins.(Well, less literal wrt motion before hands separate.) Simply put, it is umpire judgment if the motion is the beginning of her windup. If all this stopping and starting is to (or has the effect of) keeping the batters off balance, then I would likely judge it as illegal under Fed/U-trip. But, as I said, the rule is not cut and dried, so judgment is required.