How far sidearm?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Rita, by rule, the pitcher's wrist must be between the body and the elbow when he/she delivers the pitch. If the wrist is outside of (farther from the body) the elbow, it is not legal.

Key word most often misapplied: WRIST!! It doesn't say the hand or the ball must be inside the elbow, just the wrist. So the forearm must be straight down, or even pointing back into the body.

But many people look at the ball being outside the wrist (and thus the elbow)to argue a pitch is illegal. If that were the rule, no one could throw a legal curveball or drop.