Legal pitch?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Since when does something have to be specifically stated as illegal for it to be illegal?

Well, I think you are being facetious, my friend, but, for those that may not grasp the concepts (and in honor of us both NOT being at the National UIC Clinic for the first time!!):

There are two categories in the pitching rule; 1) those items that must happen to be legal, and 2) those items that if they happen are illegal. Both must be taken literally to be cited.

Category 1 examples: Must step on the PP fully within the 24" width with both feet and hands separated, must take or simulate signal after stepping on and before bringing hands together, must actually bring hands together in order to legally separate to begin a pitch,

Category 2 examples: May not leap, may not separate hands without immediately and continuously pitching, may not release the ball with the wrist further from the body than the elbow, may not make two revolutions on the windmill, may not have hands together more than 10 seconds (5 in NCAA), may not make another revolution after releasing the ball (chinese changeup).

NOT ILLEGAL examples often cited, but no rule that actually or specifically makes it illegal: Taking a signal off the PP, not "presenting" the ball, the hand passing the hip twice, the hands touched but the ball wasn't "inside the glove", not wiping the hand after using the rosin bag or touching the dirt (is illegal to not wipe in NCAA only!!), bringing the pitching hand to the mouth while on the "mound", using a slingshot release after using a windmill (changing the motion), grunting on release.