Gorilla Stance

[mbyron]

Originally posted by Daryl H. Long

1. I do not admit that in the gorilla stance the arm is in front. I say it is still at his side so he conforms with the rule. If any part of the arm conforms to the rule then pitcher is OK. Can a pitcher get his WHOLE arm behind his back. NO. Try it. I would bet no matter how hard you try the only part of your arm you can get behind your back is from the elbow to the tip of the fingers. If he can conform to that part of the rule with only a portion of his arm actually behind his back then we have to conclude if only a portion of the arm is at his side he also conforms.

This has got to be one of the stupidest comments I've ever seen on this board - I'd like to think it's a joke.

Stop for 30 seconds and think: your arm is attached to your shoulder. Where it attaches, it's on your side. So it's physically impossible to have your whole arm in front of your body, or behind it, as you say.

Now ask yourself: if THAT'S what they meant by "at the side, or behind the back", why write a rule that prohibits something physically impossible?

The principle of interpretive charity dictates that when someone writes something that is obviously false or absurd, then likely your interpretation of it is incorrect. You have not applied this principle in your interpretation of the rule. I have tried to apply it in my interpretation of your comment: that's why I want to think that you're joking.