Taking the signal

[MD Longhorn]

I'm not sure what MN means there (MN - she's SUPPOSED to put her hands together - and there's no double touch after that... if she's not in the glove and is just hiding her hand, then she never does come together!), but I see nothing remotely illegal here. Pretty standard pitching. And definitely not quick pitching (which is what "taking the signal from the catcher" is about in reality).

PS - I think the runner was safe at 2nd!!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I'm not sure what MN means there (MN - she's SUPPOSED to put her hands together - and there's no double touch after that... if she's not in the glove and is just hiding her hand, then she never does come together!), but I see nothing remotely illegal here. Pretty standard pitching. And definitely not quick pitching (which is what "taking the signal from the catcher" is about in reality).

PS - I think the runner was safe at 2nd!!

Agree the call at 2nd looks questionable

But what first drew my attention was the PU coming out through the RH BB.

Really couldn't tell if the pitch was legal or not, but from what little I could see it didn't seem like she spent any time on the PP with her hands separated.

[RKBUmp]

This is what I have been seeing more and more of. The pitcher taking the signal back behind the pitching plate which is perfectly legal, but then stepping on and immediately bringing the hands together. An inning later she was even worse than this, bases were loaded and hands were already coming together as she was stepping on.

[jwwashburn]

I have seen more of this style this year, as well.

The hands are not at her side when she steps on and they are coming together quickly

The fact that she does hold them together and is clearly not quick pitching makes it ok in my mind but, I am not sure I should have this opinion.

Thoughts?

[RKBUmp]

Agree that she is making no attempt to quick pitch, however, 8-1-D clearly states they must take or simulate taking a signal with the hands separated.

[Jake26]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

But what first drew my attention was the PU coming out through the RH BB.

And does ASA have a holding zone in front of the circle?

[RadioBlue]

I had a pitcher who was very similar (although much shorter time interval from the time she stepped on to the time of delivery) earlier this year. I called her for an IP a couple of times because in those instances, her hands appeared to come together as she stepped on. After the second or third one, the coach came out to say her hands aren't together. I explained that from where the batter and I am, it appears they are together and the purpose of the rule requiring a pitcher to step on with their hands separated is to avoid a quick pitch.

On this pitcher in the video, I don't think I would call her on it. The difference being (at least in the examples in the video), her hands are separate for a split second when she steps on and she takes plenty of time before beginning any movement. Is it technically an IP? Yes. Would I call it? Not from what I've seen.

[ronald]

Originally Posted by Jake26

And does ASA have a holding zone in front of the circle?

no they do not but the almost all umpires at the gold were college umps too. i was the only one who was probably not. i did not talk to all of em but to the ones i did, they did college ball.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by ronald

no they do not but the almost all umpires at the gold were college umps too. i was the only one who was probably not. i did not talk to all of em but to the ones i did, they did college ball.

You weren't the only one that doesn't do college out there. I know of at least two others that do not umpire college ball that were there!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

You weren't the only one that doesn't do college out there. I know of at least two others that do not umpire college ball that were there!

I'm trying to figure out the relevance of whether the umpire works college ball or not.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm trying to figure out the relevance of whether the umpire works college ball or not.

ditto

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm trying to figure out the relevance of whether the umpire works college ball or not.

As am I....just was clarifying that not all the umpires there umpired college there were a couple ASA/FED guys hiding there!

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm trying to figure out the relevance of whether the umpire works college ball or not.

There was a statement made about "holding zones." As was relayed by the staff, when all three umpires are "in" (meaning no umpire chased), there "is no holding zone" (the quotes here reflect an actual quote). Therefore, (as not demonstrated in the video) with no runners on or a runner on first: on a base hit, the PU trails the BR, then should take a position at third. No holding zone, just calling position.

NCAA mechanics allow the PU to utilize the holding zone in front of the circle for the same play.

[ronald]

Good not to be the lone wolf

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I'm not sure what MN means there (MN - she's SUPPOSED to put her hands together - and there's no double touch after that... if she's not in the glove and is just hiding her hand, then she never does come together!), but I see nothing remotely illegal here. Pretty standard pitching. And definitely not quick pitching (which is what "taking the signal from the catcher" is about in reality).

PS - I think the runner was safe at 2nd!!

I apologize - I wasn't very clear with my statement.

From the video, I can't tell if she is bringing her hands together and then simulating taking the sign or if she is putting the glove in front of her pitching hand to prevent the batter from seeing the ball and how she is gripping the ball.

If she is just hiding her grip and she does bring her hands together prior to delivering the ball, she is legal. When pitchers do this, sometimes it is very difficult to tell if their hands are separated or if they are together. My belief is that if we don't know she is illegal, then she is legal.