Pitcher pulsing foot

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I'm having a hard time envisioning what "pulses his foot" means.

I've seen a couple of MLB pitchers who, while going to the Set, will pick up their free foot slightly and put it back down repeatedly (about three to five times) before they finally come to the required stop. I think that's what the OP is describing.

I don't see how that really violates anything. It's not like they continue to do it after the hands come to the stop. And I really don't see how that simulates the start of a pitch or throw to a base.

Pitchers are given a little latitude to do quirky stuff when the go from the Stretch to the Set. I recall John Rocker tapping the ball against the inside of his glove as his hands came down in front of his body. Mike Mussina used to take a step towards home and lean forward with his upper body before he brought his foot back towards the pitcher's plate and stood erect. Nobody ever said anything about those moves under OBR.

As for FED, who knows. They balk the gorilla arm swing while the pitcher looks in for the sign, so they may feel this is illegal as well.

[RPatrino]

Things pulsing on the field, OMG, the horror.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I've seen a couple of MLB pitchers who, while going to the Set, will pick up their free foot slightly and put it back down repeatedly (about three to five times) before they finally come to the required stop. I think that's what the OP is describing.

I don't see how that really violates anything. It's not like they continue to do it after the hands come to the stop. And I really don't see how that simulates the start of a pitch or throw to a base.

Pitchers are given a little latitude to do quirky stuff when the go from the Stretch to the Set. I recall John Rocker tapping the ball against the inside of his glove as his hands came down in front of his body. Mike Mussina used to take a step towards home and lean forward with his upper body before he brought his foot back towards the pitcher's plate and stood erect. Nobody ever said anything about those moves under OBR.

As for FED, who knows. They balk the gorilla arm swing while the pitcher looks in for the sign, so they may feel this is illegal as well.

Mariano Rivera comes to mind with several toe taps on the way to coming set. I haven't seen him lately so I don't know if he still does it.

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Mariano Rivera comes to mind with several toe taps on the way to coming set. I haven't seen him lately so I don't know if he still does it.

Or Mike Adams

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by nopachunts

Or Mike Adams

Hideki Nomo used to completely stop before he delivered the pitch home from the windup. Technically a balk.

Mussina would actually come to a stop with hands together, and bent completely over at the waist. He would then raise his upper torso up, and stop again............MLB umpires don't nitpick the usual unusual moves.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Hideki Nomo used to completely stop before he delivered the pitch home from the windup. Technically a balk.

Unless there were no runners, and that's when he pitched from the windup. He probably would've been called for a balk if there was someone on base, I'm guessing.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Unless there were no runners, and that's when he pitched from the windup. He probably would've been called for a balk if there was someone on base, I'm guessing.

No way they balk that pause. NCAA added an approved ruling not long ago to specifically permit a pause during delivery from the windup. They were just putting in writing the MLB treatment of such a pause.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I've seen a couple of MLB pitchers who, while going to the Set, will pick up their free foot slightly and put it back down repeatedly (about three to five times) before they finally come to the required stop. I think that's what the OP is describing.

I don't see how that really violates anything. It's not like they continue to do it after the hands come to the stop. And I really don't see how that simulates the start of a pitch or throw to a base.

Pitchers are given a little latitude to do quirky stuff when the go from the Stretch to the Set. I recall John Rocker tapping the ball against the inside of his glove as his hands came down in front of his body. Mike Mussina used to take a step towards home and lean forward with his upper body before he brought his foot back towards the pitcher's plate and stood erect. Nobody ever said anything about those moves under OBR.

As for FED, who knows. They balk the gorilla arm swing while the pitcher looks in for the sign, so they may feel this is illegal as well.

I can understand why they wouldn't call this in an MLB game, Manny. But in a game played by HS aged players, I think lifting and re-setting the free foot should probably be balked. Runners at that level are taught to key on a number of things the pitcher does as they're leading off. The free foot being a primary focus.


Tim.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I can understand why they wouldn't call this in an MLB game, Manny. But in a game played by HS aged players, I think lifting and re-setting the free foot should probably be balked. Runners at that level are taught to key on a number of things the pitcher does as they're leading off. The free foot being a primary focus.


Tim.

Yes, but keying on the tapping foot AS the pitcher is coming set isn't one of them.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Yes, but keying on the tapping foot AS the pitcher is coming set isn't one of them.

This.

Before the set, they're watching to see if the free foot moves toward first base.