I am late jumping into the discussion. BUT....

I am going to respond per NFHS Baseball and Softball Rules sets. The baseball and softball requirements for all rules codes are nearly the same. The only difference is that softball includes the phrase: "or simulate taking", which is accepted as an "unwritten" rule in baseball.

That said the intent of the rule is to prevent a "quick" pitch. I do not care from where or from whom the Pitcher receives his/her signal, as long is there is a noticeable pause between the time the Pitcher intentionally engages the Pitcher's Plate and the start of his/her pitching motion.

There is not rule justification in either baseball or softball for penalizing a Pitcher for taking his/her signal from anybody before he/she intentionally engages the Pitcher's Plate because the pitching rules do not come into effect until the Pitcher intentionally engages the Pitcher's Plate.

An umpire know when the Pitcher has committed and infraction of the rule because the Pitcher will have "quick" pitched.

MTD, Sr.