Set Position

[Jim Krueger]

I'm looking for some interps on " the glove at or below the chin" in the set position (NFHS) Do they mean any part of the glove at the chin? What advantage does a pitcher gain by having his glove higher than his chin?

[blueump]

"mine is not to reason why, mine in just to do and die!"

The top of the glove is still "the glove" but now, I believe, we are really nit picking!

[Jim Krueger]

Yesterday, I had a pitcher set with the heel of his glove at his chin and sometimes a little above. No balk was called and no one complained, but I'm sure some day someone will and that is why I am "asking" not "nit picking"

[Rich]

Originally posted by Jim Krueger
Yesterday, I had a pitcher set with the heel of his glove at his chin and sometimes a little above. No balk was called and no one complained, but I'm sure some day someone will and that is why I am "asking" not "nit picking"

Just "a" part of the glove has to be at or below the chin, not the entire glove.

[aevans410]

I'd like to be at the game where that gets balked. Jim is right though, there is going to be a time where this pitcher runs into an OOO and it's gonna get balked.

[UmpJM]

Jim,

I have no idea what the actual rationale behind this rule is.

The two "reasons" I have heard suggested (both of which strike me as ludicrous) are:

1. To prevent the pitcher from surreptitiously applying a "foreign substance" to the ball (presumably from his mouth) while hiding the action with his glove.

and

2. So the pitcher cannot prevent the batter from seeing his eyes.

JM

[jicecone]

Originally posted by Jim Krueger
I'm looking for some interps on " the glove at or below the chin" in the set position (NFHS) Do they mean any part of the glove at the chin? What advantage does a pitcher gain by having his glove higher than his chin?

I believe this rule is to prevent the pitcher from extending the ball above his head and turning and throwing with a full arm.

The further the arm is extended, the easier it is to get a good throw over to first.

Of course, it also prevents the pitcher from winking at the umpire with the batters knowledge. NOT

[thumpferee]

Holding the glove above the chin/head allows for more velocity to be put on the throw with less movement.

I think I spelled velocity right, but I am not a spelling teacher!

[Edited by thumpferee on Apr 14th, 2005 at 05:19 PM]

[Daryl H. Long]

Originally posted by thumpferee
Holding the glove above the chin/head allows for more velocity to be put on the throw with less movement.

I think I spelled velocity right, but I am not a spelling teacher!

[Edited by thumpferee on Apr 14th, 2005 at 05:19 PM]

Nor a physics or math teacher.

Velocity is made up of two components: speed and direction. It is the rate of motion in a given direction.

A pitchers fast ball may be said to move in rectilinear motion (a straight line). Breaking balls in curvilinear motion. For the fast ball speed and velocity could be the same but for breaking balls even if the speed remains constant, velocity changes.

The best pitchers are those who can throw the ball (put it into motion) with the gratest momentum. Momentum is mass times velocity. Since the ball is a fixed mass the only way to increase momentum is to increase velocity. The simplest way to increase velocity is to have a force act upon it for the longest possible time. Whether the pitcher holds the glove above/below his chin, it has no bearing on velocity since the glove is stationary. A force must be applied which in baseball is done only by FORWARD action of the pitcher's arm. The longer his hand is in contact with the ball the greater its velocity. That is why you hear coaches constantly yell for the pitcher to "follow through". More velocity, and more accuracy when the release is done at the proper place in space.