Illegal Set Position???

[KD76]

Rules of MLB say clearly that the pitcher must come set "in front" of his body. I have always understood this to be chin to waist, but would not quarrel over a little high or low if it was a consistent set. We oppose one pitcher who frankly is not all that strong, but he comes set at the very top of the classic stretch - arms fully extended, ball directly over his head. To runners he appears to go home because as his arms come down, his front elbow flexes out toward home. He uses the high set then to generate extra torque on his throw to 1B. He does pause at the top - comes set - but not at all once his hands come down - never anywhere close to in front of his body. Two umpires have now sided with the coach that a pitcher can come set anywhere - including behind his back. Our local head ump disagrees with that (behind the back), but has been unwilling to say that the set position cannot be over the head and must actually be in front of the body. The rationale is that a set above the head might be in front of a vertical plane rising upwards from the center of the body - thus the set is "in front" of the body, even if it is straight above the head. Am I just wrong about this?

[ozzy6900]

I would really have to see this to be sure. But from the description, if this pitcher has both hands over his head and stops, that could be considered a set. The problem now is he has to complete the pitch/pickoff without hesitation or stopping again anywhere in the delivery. Look at a couple of these Japanese guys to see what I am talking about. IMHO, I do not think that too many 'kids" can do this move properly and would probably be balking with a double set somewhere along the line.

Don't get too hung up on where the set is (as you stated high, low) be more concerned that there is in fact a "set" and that there is only one. If the pitcher is able to confuse your runners within the confines of the rules, then he has done his job. My son was a RHP that would nail runners at 1st time after time by making the runner believe he wasn't coming after them (again within the rules). It's part of the pitcher's job.

Regards

[bob jenkins]

I think the interp is "head to toes". Jim Evans covers it in his video.

I don't quite understand how it helps the pitcher to have the hands higher, nor how it's confusing to the runners (unless it does include a move to the plate).

FED is any part of the glove must be at or below the chin.

[KD76]

The kid does come set. His move is smooth - no interruption whether he goes home or to the base. Give him credit there. My issues are the set is not in front of the body (and I thought that actually meant in front of the body), and on his move to first, his lead elbow can appear to go home first because he has to bring his hands down and his arms bend. This occurs as he turns toward first in one motuon, but it can apper to the runner that he is moving toward home. Sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't, depending on how he has made the move.

I guess my follow-up then would be more simple: Why do MLB rules say come set in front of the body if a pitcher does not have to come set in front of his body?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by KD76

The kid does come set. His move is smooth - no interruption whether he goes home or to the base. Give him credit there. My issues are the set is not in front of the body (and I thought that actually meant in front of the body), and on his move to first, his lead elbow can appear to go home first because he has to bring his hands down and his arms bend. This occurs as he turns toward first in one motuon, but it can apper to the runner that he is moving toward home. Sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't, depending on how he has made the move.

I guess my follow-up then would be more simple: Why do MLB rules say come set in front of the body if a pitcher does not have to come set in front of his body?

1) Having the lead elbow "appear to go to home" is probably not enough to cause a balk. After all, the right hand and shoulder move "toward home" on a pick-off throw, too.

2) Congratulations. You found the one error / misstatement in OBR. They put it in there just to see who was really reading the book. Now that you found it, keep it quiet so we can find out who else reads the book.