Pitch behind the back

[Skahtboi]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
"past the straight line of the body."

I've always felt this is the most ambiguous statement in the entire rules book. I don't think that any umpire has a clue what the "straight line of the body" is; I suspect most of us just go right past this sentence.

If the pitcher takes her position on the pitcher's plate with her shoulders in line with first and third, the "straight line of the body" would be that imaginary plane that the front of her body would create. If one is pitching behind their back, it would seem unlikely that the release and follow through would allow her to go forward through this plane, hence a violation of the rule.