Joe West's Illegal Pitch call in the Cards/Pirates game

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Originally posted by Tim C
The "big wigs" are probably silent on this issue Tony because David nailed it 100%.

There are no provisions in the rules to do ANY of the things that you have demanded AND the rules and interpretations from J/R and Evans back up everything David has noted. There are two reasons for illegal pitches . . . period. And the penalty phase is clear.

You jumped off a pretty high emotional cliff and there is no safety net below you.

Tee

Tim, stunningly (at least for me), you're serious that 8.01d only applies to pitching before the batter is ready and/or pitching from off the rubber. Man, I find that interpretation difficult to believe!

Perhaps it is my primarily NFHS background that is causing my confusion.

Baseball NFHS 2-18: An illegal pitch is an illegal act committed by the pitcher with no runner on base, which results in a ball being awareded the batter. When an illegal pitch occurs with a runner, or runners, on base, it is ruled a balk.

"An illegal act" in NFHS is obviously not limited to the two situations stated in the OBR definition.

I would think that NFHS would have devised that rule trying to base it upon the OBR. So again, it makes it very difficult for me believe that the OBR intent is so vastly different from the stated NFHS rule.

Perhaps one of you can explain to me then... What does "without interruption or alteration" mean? SECONDLY, how do you get from rule 8.01 to the ejection penalty specified in rule 8.02 (that seems nearly specifically aimed at defacing the ball)? Perhaps I am confused and you got to ejection in some other way beside 8.02?

Why would you flattly eject without going through the motions of 8.02 PENALTY? And how did you get past the first action of item "(a) Call the pitch a ball?"
PENALTY: For violation of any part of this rule 8.02 (a) (2 to 6) the umpire shall:
(a) Call the pitch a ball, warn the pitcher and have announced on the public address system the reason for the action.
(b) In the case of a second offense by the same pitcher in the same game, the pitcher shall be disqualified from the game.
(c) If a play follows the violation called by the umpire, the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that he elects to accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation.
(d) Even though the offense elects to take the play, the violation shall be recognized and the penalties in (a) and (b) will still be in effect.

8.01 starts with the words "Legal pitching delivery." To not follow the rules of 8.01 would be .... illegal? or maybe not; maybe it would be that subtle difference that Hensley call "pitching illegally." I feel like I could go on and on... ooohhh I already have.

I don't mean to be recalcitrant but this interpretation does not seem appropriate or in the proper spirit of the game. Maybe I'm starting to get dizzy and the fall is about to end as I discover the lack of a safety net.