Quick Pitch

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Sven K

Without asking for time, may the pitcher get the ball back, quickly come set, and deliver the pitch while the runner is still face down in the dirt? It seems a little unfair to the runner to force him to dive back (maybe repeatedly) and then rush through the set position while he is spitting the grit out of his teeth.

What runner or umpire would come even close to letting this happen?

[TwoBits]

I have seen what the OP describes attempted in travel ball involving young players (12U, 10U, etc.). However, the young pitcher often commits any number of violations in trying to get a pitch to the batter quickly while the runner is "face down in the dirt". Among them I've seen have been:
-not coming to a complete stop in the set position.
-contacting the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot while bringing the hands together, thus not taking a sign (or simulating taking a sign) while in contact with the pitcher's plate (which we all know is to keep the pitcher from quick pitching the batter).
-being so concerned with pitching quickly that he fires one to the plate without realizing the batter has stepped out of the box as the pitcher feinted to the occupied base.

[Sven K]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

...the young pitcher often commits any number of violations...

-contacting the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot while bringing the hands together, thus not taking a sign (or simulating taking a sign) while in contact with the pitcher's plate (which we all know is to keep the pitcher from quick pitching the batter).

Could you explain this a bit more? Isn't the pivot foot supposed to be on the rubber when the the hands come together? Do you mean starting with the hands together and then stepping on to the rubber? Sort of as a shortcut to coming properly set from a hands apart (getting the sign) to hands together (set)? If a guy is trying to get a pitch off before the runner is ready he might not bother looking for a sign.

[celebur]

Originally Posted by Sven K

Could you explain this a bit more? Isn't the pivot foot supposed to be on the rubber when the the hands come together? Do you mean starting with the hands together and then stepping on to the rubber? Sort of as a shortcut to coming properly set from a hands apart (getting the sign) to hands together (set)? If a guy is trying to get a pitch off before the runner is ready he might not bother looking for a sign.

He's referring to the first part of the pitching regulations; see rule 8.01:

Originally Posted by OBR Rule 8.01

Legal pitching delivery. There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position, and either position may be used at any time.

Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while in contact with the pitcher’s plate.

Rule 8.01 Comment: Pitchers may disengage the rubber after taking their signs but may not step quickly onto the rubber and pitch. This may be judged a quick pitch by the umpire. When the pitcher disengages the rubber, he must drop his hands to his sides.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by celebur

he's referring to the first part of the pitching regulations; see rule 8.01:

+1

[Rich]

A good batter steps out of the box on a pick-off attempt, guaranteeing that the runner will have time to get ready before the batter steps back in.

[Sven K]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

What runner or umpire would come even close to letting this happen?

A runner who is either not savvy or who expects that the Umpire to "help him out". But it seems to me that there is no rule for the Umpire to act on here if the pitcher is not balking and is otherwise making a legal pitch.

Most of the rules seem (to me at least) to be well-founded in a principle of fairness and I thought that maybe I was missing something in the rules or commentary with regard to the runners.

[rbmartin]

If the runner needs more time, he should request it. The batter should also be aware if his teammate is not ready and simply request time himself before getting in the batters box.

ps. don't insult the gentleman who asked the question in the OP. He wasn't rude or insulting and we shouldn't be either.