Watching the Missouri vs. Michigan game the announcers were talking about Michigan's pitcher and how she was told if she did not learn to pitch "legally" her Freshman year she would not pitch again for Michigan.
Announcers said "she was allowed to pitch illegally" her entire HS and travel ball career so she had to relearn how to pitch without a crow hop etc.
Kind of makes you wonder how does the scout or whoever recruited her not know she was pitching illegal?
Probably did know she was but didn't care, figured she could be broken of it by coaches at UM. Scouts and coaches for nearly every sport no longer care as much about technique as they do physical ability and that you fit the physical stat chart/eye test. The general assumption being their coaches are smarter and better at coaching than your HS coach.
this is true of most sports and when you get a talented kid that's not coachable, that's your typical "bust" prospect in a nutshell.
Is this Legal?? While we have covered all areas on this topic How about a Pitcher approaching the pitching plate & never stopping although in contact entire time She starts just behind plate & is walking up from behind Plate stepping on plate & delivering pitch without ever stopping on plate. ...... (Her Hands are seperated prior to pitch & footwork is ok not crow hopping)
Is this Legal??...
Bretman,
What determines if the batter is "ready'? This year more so than in years past, I have watched pitchers deliver the pitch the second a batter has both feet in the box and the umpires hand is down. The batter is clearly not "ready" but the umpire allows the pitch to be delivered. I have watched batters that are still measuring off, setting their feet with their bat still on their shoulder not even looking forward and the pitch is allowed to be delivered. Most of the coaches and players just make adjustments to the pitcher who I perceive as quick pitching and usually end up on the losing end of the affair. I am talking about a few seconds, nothing drastic by the batter.
Andy Dyer
I agree, it doesn't necessarily help a pitcher when she's leaps or crow hops. I believe the pitcher would probably be too "forward" during the delivery of pitch....I doubt leaping really helps a pitcher.
Including the "circle" is not the correct dimensions either.Over the years I would say I have seen more problems with "field preparation"...
I agree. But, going side-to-side out of the pitching lane is a violation. Example, a pitcher throwing a back door curve, could potentially pull herself out of the lane side-to-side. That's a violation. I think that creates confusion with pitching rules.The pitching circle really has ZERO to do with illegal pitches. There's no rule that says the pitcher can't stride out of it.
What determines if the batter is "ready'?
She continues to step out of the "pitchers box" or whatever its called. I wondered why she has never been called too.