So, if the pitcher exceeds two rotations, the pitch is to be called a strike? Or crow hops, it's a strike? Or steps halfway to 1B, it's a strike?

Conceivably, yes. The videos (2 at separate clinics) I saw showed a pitcher misstepping in a way that one would call an ugly crowhop in one case, and in the other showed her misstepping and landing outside the 24 (not "halfway to first" ... but outside the 24 is outside the 24, no matter how far). I honestly can't imagine this occurring in real life and having a picture rotate an extra time.

Seems to me the easier solution, if they want to simply penalize the batter by a strike in almost every case, is to get rid of the "if she stops or hesitates it's a no pitch" part and just simply call it immediately dead if the batter steps out during a delivery and call it a penalty strike. If they are wanting (as clinics and our interpretor say) any missteps by the pitcher to be blamed on the hitter... perhaps they should also blame the pitcher stopping or hesitating on the hitter as well. More consistent.

Yeah, I'll ask for the local take on this when I get a chance.

This isn't wordsmithing, though. The rule very clearly says what Steve said it says. That may not be the way they want it called (it wouldn't be the first such rule), but this isn't getting fancy with the words it's just taking them as written.

Separately in this thread you've quoted "the pitch is ruled to be legal", where does that phrase come from?

7-3-1-eff2
lf the pitcher stops or hesitates in her delivery as a result ol the batter stepping out of the box or holding up her hand to request time, it shall not be an illegal pitch.

But the quoted phrase isn't actually a quote from somewhere?

Huh? I just told you where that is quoted from. Rule 7-3-1, effect 2. Direct quote.

Don't worry, youngump. I don't see those exact words in my rule book either. :p

I'm looking right at it.

:confused: At the exact words, "the pitch is ruled to be legal"? There is no such wording in the Effects 2 paragraph under 7-3-1 in my FED rule book, Mike.

Manny Young Ump was asking about this quote from Mike

And yes it's from the book

Interestingly, I quoted it for you, told you where it was ... and you somehow misquote me. Does my quote say "the pitch is ruled to be legal"? Nope. It says what I quoted. Twice. Verbatim. "lf the pitcher stops or hesitates in her delivery as a result of the batter stepping out of the box or holding up her hand to request time, it shall not be an illegal pitch."

Man, moderating must be a really tough gig.

How do you manage?

Groan...

Folks, please refer to youngump's post #49. Read the last sentence that starts with "Separately in this thread..."

OK - I found where I used the phrase referred to. I was not quoting the rulebook there, I was summarizing the rule I quoted 3 times - using quotes to separate the phrase instead of putting hyphens between each word - which is hard to read. It was not a quote of the rule. Sorry for the confusion.

I have been following everything said since I first posted the question. Haven't said much (yes, I am a lurker;), but I've surmised a couple of things. One is that there isn't a definitive, clear answer to this question. And two is that there should be. This is obviously a poorly worded group of rules that seems to want to do the right thing but can't get out of it's own way. I wish (and it's just a wish) that the Fed had a "hotline" if you will to clarify things like this. I believe NCAA had "Ask Dee" a few years back. I've found, like some have said, that the state guy doesn't always know what their talking about. They're just giving personal opinions that aren't necessarily any more learned than mine.