No pitch if batter not ready?

[bobbrix]

Hi Folks,

I'm in the middle of a pile of playoff games and seeing some things I haven't seen before, so here's one of a few topics I'll post in the next short while ....


Can the pitcher pitch as soon as the batter is in the batter's box?

I ump'd an A game (11 year olds) yesterday where the pitcher was definitely rushing. Not to intentionally catch the batters off guard, I believe, but I think it was just her nature.

Anyway, I called a half-dozen "no pitches".

Twice because I wasn't even ready and the rest because the batters had just stepped into the box and hadn't even set up yet.

Doesn't the pitcher have to give the batter a chance to prepare properly? The pitcher's coach started giving me a hard time saying "If they're in the box she can pitch!"

... bobbrix