Florida/S. Florida talking heads
 

Just turned on the game in the top of the 4th, S Florida pitcher just got called for a couple of illegal pitches for leaping. Talking heads blabbing on and on about how leaping is not gaining an advantage, it is actually a disadvantage.

My wife keeps saying, "Stop yelling at the TV. You know they can't hear you."

I was watching this and learned something new. Did you know that when the umpire holds out his arm and makes a fist that it's the signal for an illegal pitch? And here I always thought that it meant delayed dead ball. Thank you ESPN talking heads!

What part of the rule book do they not seem to grasp? Nowhere does it say, "only if the pitcher is gaining an advantage." The rule says the pivot foot must drag away from the pitching plate.

Your wife must be a bigamist because she sounds like my wife, :D.

MTD, Sr.

The hand held out is a delayed dead ball. It is also used on obstruction for example.

And therefore, they are gaining an advantage. Otherwise, they would just pitch legally. :D

The energy they are using to lift themselves airborne IS wasted, and they WOULD gain an advantage over leaping if they COULD exert that same energy horizontally toward the batter.

would... could... that is where the scientific analysis falls apart. The leaping pitcher is willing to sacrifice that bit of vertical force to gain a bit more horizontal force.

IOW, the vertical force IS wasted energy; in that aspect the THs are correct. But, the pitcher IS gaining an advantage since she is also gaining a bit more horizontal force (i.e. she is not jumping straight up!). So, the "no advantage" claim is incorrect.

They are at it again, "we have video of her throwing 70 mph with the foot in the air, and we have video of her throwing 70 mph with the foot on the ground. Where is she gaining an advantage? It is a stupid rule and if they pitchers arent gaining an advantage it shouldnt be illegal."

If it isnt an advantage, then why not just pitch legally? If they want the leap legal, then change the rule. Until then it is against the rules and the pitchers need to pitch within the rules they are playing under. One big point I do agree with though is it needs to be called all year, not just come tournament time. BUT, that does not change the fact these coaches know full well their pitchers arent legal and they choose to ignore it, then pitch a fit when they are called.

If wasn't illegal to leap, what would stop a pitcher from launcing herself off the rubber like a standing broad jumper? Releasing the pitch another ten feet closer to the plate probably would be an advantage.

Asu / Michigan game. "The runner has to slide going into second. "

what about third?

The further the leap the less reaction time for a batter. Ergo advantage.

Do the math.
70 mph = 369,600 feet per hour /60 = 6160 feet per min /60 = 102.6667 feet per second

Reaction time for a 70mph pitch at
43' is .42 seconds
42' is .41 seconds
41' is .40 seconds
40' is .39 seconds
, etc.

I was wondering about this as well. I know Michigan wanted INT on the retire runner, but the umpires made the right call. S.R. was not close to being interfered with.

BTW: Did anyone see the wild 7th inning of the game. What a great finish for Michigan and a heartbreaking ending for ASU.

All I can say is "Go Blue"

After spending the day out of the house I came home and started watching, and then erased it because I knew I would start yelling at the TV and my wife would get mad.

I figure I should keep her happy on the one of two weekends I am home this summer.
:p

I scared the dogs when she said this...:(

Yes, but letting it out helps avoid stress and prevents you from developing an ulcer, so it is a healthy outburst and your wife should appreciate what you are doing to stay well

I watched a good portion of the 5-1 LSU victory over Arizona.

Some observations:

Early inning, maybe the first. First base umps calls BR out on a banger while running toward first. He never did stop, read the play, and make the call. I've been dinged on evaluations for this.
Early inning, again. PU rotates to 3rd to call runner out when she tried to go from first to third. Again, call was made on the run. I don't think the ump ever came into fair territory to make the call.
Both pitchers showed extreme restraint w/ PU strike calls. I think the LSU pitcher walked about 9 batters (and gave up only the 1 run!) and the Arizona pitcher had at least a handful of walks.
I kept rewinding the TiVo to see where the pitches were missing. This guy had a zone about the size of a postage stamp.

Kind of felt the same way on the strike zone, but Im wondering how much the camera angle and height affects what is perceived on the TV. In another game I was watching earlier in the day the pitcher threw a changeup that looked absolutely perfect from the center field camera. Dead down the middle of the plate and looked like it crossed below the sternum. Then they showed a slow motion replay from a ground level camera in the 1st base dugout and it showed the ball passing well above the sternum.

This is just a common official spousal affliction. :D

I've done the same. My dog will vacate the living room when sports are on TV. My wife swears that when I get ranting about something a TH has said, I turn into my dad. I have to point out to her that there is a key difference. I'm yelling at the common-taters, not the players.

I did/do consider the camera angles while watching the games. But there were a few times when the Arizona pitcher was visibly peeved. And the catchers held a few pitches for an extra count or two.