| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
CRblues
24 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2015 : 02:00:30
|
In the last year we have had two umpires tell our pitcher that he was not properly placing his feet pitching from the set position and they
were going to call balks/illegal pitches if he did not align his free
foot parallel to the plate in line with the pivot foot to the plate?
Our pitcher places his pivot foot parallel to and just in front of
the pitching rubber and places his free foot towards third base but
also in front of the pitching rubber. The two Umps at different
games made him move the free foot between the pivot foot and home plate
They did not seem to understand the POE about the hybrid pitching
position and were restricting the free foot position of the pitcher
which caused him to lose some control and issue some walks.
I tried to tell them that they were misinterpreting the rule and that
the free foot only had to be in front of the rubber and could be anywhere in front of the rubber. They disagreed and made the pitcher pitch from an uncomfortable position. How do you get umpires during a game to revisit/look at the rules with out getting myself thrown out of the game? The only way I see to do it is to have the pitcher throw his normal pitch and when the balk/illegal pitch is called play the game under protest to settle the the rule interpretation.
Any other suggestions? |
|
|
lowandoutside
69 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2015 : 10:33:50
|
| In my opinion, if they refuse to review the rules you would have to play the game under protest or request to speak to the tournament director. I think the umpire would request the TD before playing the game under protest. In this situation, how could the game progress if every single pitch the pitcher threw was deemed a balk? If you allowed your pitcher to pitch that way, under a protest, it would make for an extremely long inning/game. I'm sure the ump would want a resolution to prevent that from happening. |
 |
|
|
CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2015 : 11:21:54
|
| You could contact TC or USSSA (or the governing authority) and ask them for a rule clarification that you can have in your back pocket for such instances. |
|
|
|
bfriendly
376 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2015 : 07:10:52
|
I have never seen this called as a balk, but several of our kids were taught to pitch that way......
I would definitely have something in pocket/hitting bucket to keep that would make short work of the issue next time. If it is not clear(I didn't look it up) in the rules, then a clarification is definitely in order. |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2015 : 09:20:04
|
My recommendation, for what it's worth, is to address the issue with the umpires and opposing coach at the pre-game plate meeting if you know or have any chance of that pitchers throwing in that game. I wouldn't wait and take a chance that one of them may call it, then try and ask for clarifications during the game. Explain that his set point is legal within the defined rules and that you want to alert them that, while it may appear unorthodox, it is completely within the described rules.
Once they agree, in front of the opposing coach, you'll be far less likely to have issue during the game.
If they disagree with your interpretation at the meeting, then you'll know you're in for a long game. |
|
|
|
bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2015 : 14:11:18
|
Sounds to me like the pitcher is in a set position, but just in a closed position? I'm not aware of any rule that disallows that. Maybe I just can't picture what you are talking about from your description. Can you post the rule the umps are talking about?
If you want to find yourself in the parking lot, then do what some others are suggesting and bring a rule book or piece of paper with you to the umpire when he calls the balk. That will get you tossed in a heartbeat. in the know's suggestion is the best. Discuss it in the pregame meeting. |
|
|
|
CRblues
24 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2015 : 01:57:02
|
BB, there was a POE requested of umpires to restrict the hybrid starting position some pitchers use while pitching out of the full windup. I think that the two umpires are misreading the POE and applying it to the set position. The POE did not involve any rule change but only wanted the rules followed more strictly from the full
windup starting position (ie, both feet on the rubber perpendicular to the rubber and body squared up facing home plate). My guess is that
some pitchers were setting up with feet angled and the body angled not
in line with home plate causing runner confusion on whether the pitcher was in full windup or set position. The set position does not cause this confusion since the free foot must be in front of the rubber hence can not be confused with the full windup position. The pitcher in question has pitched both travel and high school ball and only pitches from the closed set position.
|
|
|
|
sebaseball
101 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2016 : 12:46:45
|
quote:
Originally posted by lowandoutside
In my opinion, if they refuse to review the rules you would have to play the game under protest or request to speak to the tournament director. I think the umpire would request the TD before playing the game under protest. In this situation, how could the game progress if every single pitch the pitcher threw was deemed a balk? If you allowed your pitcher to pitch that way, under a protest, it would make for an extremely long inning/game. I'm sure the ump would want a resolution to prevent that from happening.
I've had a couple of instances where I've asked for the TD on a rule interpretation or player safety issue (sun setting behind CF and blinding the hitter) and I have yet to have an umpire willingly do so. The ones I've dealt with seemed to be more concerned with the clock than getting it right. Discussing any potential issues that you believe may crop up at the pre-game meeting is the best choice. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Free foot position in set position
