Quote:
Originally posted by Warren Willson
Jim, my advice would be to simply call the pitch on its merits and don't be concerned with anything but the most obvious of balks - eg the catcher stepping out in front of the plate to glove the pitch.
IF you believe there was a possibility that the pitcher stepped off the rubber before delivering the ball, call "Time" and check when the play is over. You can always sort this one out later. Either the batter is out on the strike (or batter's interference - if any - with 2 outs) and no run scores or, if there is interference by the catcher, there is another outcome that can be easily be determined after the following action.
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Warren, it is paramount to know whether the pitcher made the throw from the rubber or whether he first stepped back off the rubber with his pivot foot. It doesn't matter if you and the batter are ready for the pitch or not if a pitch is not delivered. IOW, the pitcher disengaged before throwing and the incoming ball is a throw and not a pitch. Yet, it seems to me you are still willing to call a strike---or perhaps even catcher interference---even if it's not a pitch. You state you can then later check your partner to see if the pitcher disengaged before throwing.
The only way you'll know if he legally disengaged is by giving focus to the pivot foot---something that should be done anytime the pitcher has engaged the rubber with runners on any base. Even without a play at home, if the pitcher plays elsewhere an award may be determined based upon whether the pitcher disengaged before throwing to a base.
It's something you must focus on as an official.
Is this the same Warren Willson that recently discussed his beliefs to get your own calls right and not to seek help? The same Warren Willson that said it's illegal to change a call, but now he's willing to do that if his partner can add information that he was apparently unaware of---that is, whether or not the pitcher disengaged before bringing the ball to the plate? Have you changed your tune so quickly Warren..........LOL? You seem to be telling us to just call any incoming ball a pitch, and then to seek help to later sort it out. I, Warren, disagree with that and believe it's important that the PU know, when the ball is en route, whether it's a pitch or a throw.
This call is not a rule interpretation.
This is a judgment call.
Did the pitcher disengage before throwing or didn't he? That's judgment, Warren!!!
Or is this listed as a changeable call in your accepted List of 5?
If so, I failed to see it.
There is a major difference, Warren, on whether the batter will be declared out on strike 3, negating the score if the 3rd out, or whether a potential catcher's interference occurred causing awards to the batter and runners. What if the batter hits a home run, Warren? Are you going to let him round the bases
and afterward determine whether it's a home run or batter interference for hitting a throw instead of a pitch? I guess you could go check your partner...........
Sorry, Warren, but my belief is to attempt to get it right to start with.
That means
knowing whether that ball was thrown from on or off the rubber. I'll easily accomplish that by concentrating on his pivot foot, Warren. That doesn't mean I'm oblivious to other actions, but the pivot foot is the primary point of focus.
Quote:
Originally posted by Warren Willson
BTW, if you were ready then there's a good chance the batter was ready too. Most experienced umpires will wait for the batter to be reasonably set before getting set themselves. That way it's easy to tell an illegal quick pitch from an ordinary delivery.
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Typically the umpire preparation is not a problem because the pitcher engaged must either come set (thus providing a forewarning for preparedness at the plate), or he initiates his rocker step to deliver. The problem here though is that the pitcher is not
required to take a rocker step. That is, although the rocker step may be part of his normal motion,
he is not prohibited from merely stepping forward from the rubber with his nonpivot foot and pitching. While the batter may be ready in the box, it's still likely to catch you and perhaps the batter offguard---especially with the added stress of an advancing runner. Still, the pitcher's actions may not be illegal simply because he changed his windup motion. Even if caught offguard, you must know whether that incoming ball is a throw vs. a legal pitch---and you can't know that if you don't know what happened with the pitcher's feet.
Anytime the pitcher is on the rubber with runners on base, focus on the feet while allowing your peripheral vision---which works well in the limited area of the pitcher's body---to pick up the other factors of motion. The more experienced you become, the easier it is to accomplish.
Just my opinion,
Freix