Windup

[BigUmp56]

I've been having a discussion with Bob Pariseau on the eteamz board about how a pitcher must properly disengage the rubber from the windup. I've alway thought that the rule was pretty clear that as soon as he disengages he must drop his hands to his sides. This is where I find that inferrence.

PBUC

SECTION 6- PITCHING REGULATIONS

6.1 WINDUP POSITION

If a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his entire pivot foot on or in front of and touching but not off the end of the pitcher's plate and his other foot free, he will be considered in a windup position. From this position he may:

1. Deliver the ball to the batter or;
2. Step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick off a runner or;
3. Disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hands to his sides).


Now, what Bob is saying is that the proper interpretation is that the pitcher can disengage with his hands together and that his hands do not need to drop to his sides until he re-engages the rubber. Trouble is I can't seem to find what he says is the proper interpretation in the J/R, JEA, MLBUM, PBUC, or RIM.

Maybe I'm out of my mind on this one, but to me if a pitcher is allowed to disengage from the windup with his hands still together there is a huge element of deception there as this will look like his normal motion to pitch.

Am I overthinking this?


Tim.

[ozzy6900]

Tim, the "accepted ruling" has always been that if F1 steps off from the windup, he has to drop his hands to his sides before he re-engages the rubber again. If F1 steps off and keeps his hands together, it's no big deal. The whole idea is to keep F1 from quick pitching.

You won't find it anywhere but in the BRD and I cannot remember where Carl got the reference from. Also, everyone that I know that went to pro school says the same thing. It just seems to be the accepted and the most logical interpretation.

[mbyron]

Ozzy got the intent of the rule right: prevent the quick pitch. F1 must separate hands before re-engaging rubber.

As for deception: he's in the wind-up, so whom would he deceive?

Even if you've got R3, if F1 steps off R3 should be going back to the base anyway. If R3 doesn't know the difference between his free foot and his pivot foot moving first, that's not my problem. Remember: deception is not illegal, only illegal deception is illegal.

[bossman72]

Yes, ditto what oz and mb said. Pitchers always try and do the "fake windup" by rocking back with the pivot foot trying to deceive the runner on third (with no arm motion, of course).

The hands must be apart when re-engaging the rubber- this is what you should be enforcing.

[orioles35]

Another view on this...pitcher appears to be ready to wind-up, steps off with the correct foot, but while doing so keeps both hands together and brings them over his head, mimicing his wind-up, then makes the pickoff attempt. I have a balk with this one.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by orioles35

Another view on this...pitcher appears to be ready to wind-up, steps off with the correct foot, but while doing so keeps both hands together and brings them over his head, mimicing his wind-up, then makes the pickoff attempt. I have a balk with this one.

I had the exact same play last weekend. I balked him as well. Too many umpires are letting HS and middle school players get away with this move because they step off with the pivot foot.