Fastpitch Pitcher's Rule Proposal

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by ukumpire

Greetings
With thanks to Charlie we now have a link to my proposal. To everyone else that offered help Dakota, Steve etc thank you.

http://charliewaller.us/umpire/ISF_Pitching.pdf

This is an ISF version of the Proposal with references to the sport of 'Cricket' of which the USA won the 1st ever World Cup!
Hope you still remember partial theories to the sport!

Although all the Rule Points are taken from the ISF Rule Book I know that they all pertain to the ASA version and if concensus in good in principal to the proposal then I shall translate it into ASA Lanuage

An interesting concept - and professionally presented.

I would only challenge one element of the proposal.

You said:

Our proposed changes do not require pitchers to “relearn” their craft. To the contrary, not only do all currently legal techniques remain legal, but many pitching styles that were previously illegal (involving rocking, leaping, and crow-hopping, to name a few) now become legal as well.

Pitchers will always try to optimize their delivery for maximum effectiveness (i.e. velocity) within the constraints of a legal delivery.

Pitchers are not taught to take a running start although that is a drill that many pitchers do. Some pitches would be rather difficult to throw with a running start, like a dropball, for instance. (Because the stride is shortened to impart more down spin on the ball.)

Basically, your proposal is going to effectively force pitchers to adopt a style of running and pitching, because, clearly, more velocity can be generated in that manner. Those who do not adapt will be left behind by those who do.

In your proposal, you suggest that current pitching techniques could still be employed. Not really.

What if a pitcher wanted to continue to adopt her current pitching style, as if she were pitching from a pitcher's plate? She really can't because there will be no pitcher's plate. She will be forced to pitch from bare dirt with no push off support that a plate typically provides. That is no small matter, by the way.

Also, what about a pitcher who decides she is going to dig a hole in that area to provide her that support? Can she dig a hole in the middle of the pitcher's circle? And what if that hole interferes with the run-and-throw style of the other pitcher?

I still find the concept intriguing; yet, I can see some potential problems that you have not addressed.

A reason to adopt a rule should never be making life easier for the umpire, however. It should always be about the game and the players.

Adopting this rule for this reason (making it easier for the umpire) is tantamount to conceding that there is an epidemic of non-standard enforcement in this area.

Is that true? Is there evidence of this?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN