Not in contact with the rubber at release - I have the picture
Howdy,
Recently witnessed a RH pitcher who at the end of his stride motion to home does a funky little hop that has him land about 6-10 inches off the rubber ball still in hand - and then he finishes the pitch. He starts on the rubber - but by the time he finishes his stride - he has moved significantly closer to the plate..... Is this legal??? THANKS in advance for insight!!!! I have removed pictures..... [Edited by up-and-in on Jul 6th, 2004 at 08:50 AM] |
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Please post the picture. |
I assume you're talking about Javy Guerra. If so, I would describe it as a little crow hop as he strides. He definitely re-plants his right (pivot) foot before he releases the ball.
There was a lot of speculation about if his mechanics would be considered legal by pro umpires. He has signed and made his debut the other night in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie). I haven't heard anything about him having to change things, so they must've allowed it. |
Re: Not in contact with the rubber at release - I have the picture
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To help you out - here is a picture of the pitcher just before the picture that I showed above - he starts with his foot on the rubber - and then during the stride he sorta hops out and now is away from the rubber. So - this picture first then the one above.
http://users.adelphia.net/~mmyers2/picture2.jpg |
This guy looks like he starts off ok, but as he moves forward he is a foot off the rubber and the ball is still in his hand and his hand is still behind his head. By the time he releases he could be another foot toward home. This looks like illegal pitch to me. Call a ball and he will stop.
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To call that a violation is over-officious in the extreme. |
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Watch the ball????
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Thanks David |
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I can't see how that could be a legal pitch.
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http://users.adelphia.net/~mmyers2/picture.jpg |
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http://users.adelphia.net/~mmyers2/picture.jpg [Edited by DG on Jul 2nd, 2004 at 12:38 AM] |
Not odd at all
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But I've never considered it illegal. Thanks David |
This is the closest thing I could find which addresses this;
OBR 8.01(a): The Windup Position... he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot. As long as he delivers the pitch to the plate, I think I would not balk it. There really is nothing that says during that step forward, his pivot foot can not lose contact with the rubber. And it is not even mentioned for the Set Position. I was able to reproduce this action quite easily. Just push off the rubber with a little hop and you get it. The pitcher probably thinks he is getting another couple of MPH on his pitches not realizing that once you lose contact with the rubber, you lose the power of your legs and hips. It is actually a disadvantage for the pitcher because he loses his stabilizing point. My guess is this kid does not get the velocity he could and probably does not hit his spots. But I don't see how he is gaining an advantage on the runners or deceiving them in any way ? I suggest he gets a new pitching coach also. |
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Maybe not
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I did notice though late in the season he had seemed to lose some velocity. Maybe because of his unusual mechanics. But I asked him about it once, and he said he was taught that at a pitching camp - go figure. Hey he threw upper 80's and threw strikes, my kind of pitcher. thanks David |
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