Saw the finals of the ACC yesterday on TV. I don't remember the Ga. Tech pitchers name, but if anyone saw the game or has seen them before, I was wondering if you think their pitcher was illegal??

I didn't see it, but what was she doing?

She was a right hand pitcher. She started on the right side of the pitchers plate, took her forward step, and landed with her left foot about six inches to the left of the pitchers plate. The angle on TV was the same as you get from the majors kinda of short stop side of second. Even with that angle, you could tell she was way outside of the 24 inch pitchers plate.

I didn't see the game. I'll assume they worked a 3-man crew for this. Who do you want to call that? Neither BU has an angle that will make them sure and PU most likely isn't able to watch the feet and then lock in on the pitch. Unless PU is either suspicious that this is happening or is looking for it, I doubt that PU is going to see this. So, end result is that nobody is going to see the illegal delivery.

Steve M

Steve,

I have to disagree with you, that the base umpires cannot see this. The first base ump can move closer to second, and has a very good angle to see this. I have done this many times. I am suprised that when the third base ump cleaned off the pitchers plate between innings she did not notice where the pitcher was stepping. This should have been communicated between partners, and it should have been called. You are right, the plate umpire cannot call this as she/he has to concentrate on the pitch.

Bob

Bob,
With a 3-man crew - actually even a 2-man too - and a runner at 1B, I can see where it would be OK to move closer to 2B to see whether the foot lands outside the width of the pitcher's plate. I was envisioning this with nobody on. If there's nobody on base, I'm not moving over to the B slot - especially in a college game.

Steve M

Steve,

I agree with you 100%. There were many times with a runner on first. I also find it interesting the announcers never mentioned how she was pitching. I think she is a freshwomen :>). P find it hard to believe she has been pitching like that for years, and no one has called her on that.

BOB