illegal pitch (confession: good for the soul?)

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

I had Blake vs Northern.

The gist of my original post (other than the confessional side) was to ask if anyone else sometimes finds themself not enforcing illegal pitches because of the "importance" of the game or the "no one else does" argument. Even though I told myself that I was going to tow the line this year, when I came to the "big game" I rationalized myself out of it.

Actually, I think it's the opposite. I find myself less likely to call IP in an early-season league game than in a game as you describe. Rather, I go to the coach between innings, ask if we can talk to the pitcher together and explain what needs to be fixed. (This being true only at younger ages. By 14 they should know it already).

Think of it this way ... in the "big game" you could be calling what you see. It's MORE important that a championship level pitcher not be able to take advantage of whatever benefit she's receiving from pitching illegally, however small.

That said... I don't have IP in the sitch you describe... because it's not illegal. You said she stepped onto the plate and then immediately put her hands together... that means that when she got on the plate, her hands were apart, as required.