Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Legal Pitch?

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Pitcher takes the rubber hands separated, ball in throwing hand.

Takes the sign.

Then, puts both hands in front of her joins hands putting the ball in the glove with throwing hand still on the ball and pulls both hands down to her waist. Then pauses for 3-10 seconds.

Then winds up and pitches.

Legal or illegal?

 

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If I'm reading correctly I say... legal.

Hands seperated.
Hands come together
Pitch is thrown
Although 10sec may be flirting with time limits.

 

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Sounds legal but pushing the time limit.

 

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Certain sanctions also stipulate something to the effect of the pitcher must deliver the next pitch (barring time outs, etc.) within 20 seconds of receiving the ball. But I think busting the time limit is simply counted as a "ball", and not an illegal pitch.

Based on everything you said in your post, I'm not seeing anything illegal, unless it was something not mentioned - like both feet on the pitcher's plate, a step-back, etc.

 

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I agree with Sammy. Unless you failed to mention some details, this would be legal to my knowledge. The one thing that scares me is the fact the hands came together, then seperated and paused for a period. I would be concerned she brings her hands together for a second time before delivering the pitch. I have worked with older girls to pause in the wind up but I had them do it with the hands together so they don't get confused as to what comes next.

 

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Pitcher takes the rubber hands separated, ball in throwing hand.
Nothing wrong here. In ASA both feet must be touching the pitcher's plate. Hands separated - it does not matter which hand has the ball at this point; can be in either pitching hand or glove.

Takes the sign.
Or "simulates" taking the sign from the catcher. Sounds OK.

Then, puts both hands in front of her joins hands putting the ball in the glove with throwing hand still on the ball and pulls both hands down to her waist. Then pauses for 3-10 seconds.
Joins hands in front of her... hands can be anywhere in front, but the pause must come immediately thereafter, and BEFORE starting the pitch. For reference, DD was taught "not less than 1 second, nor more than 10 seconds", but I think the rules simply state a pause of no more than 10 seconds.

Then winds up and pitches.
Everything OK up to here... If she in fact delivered a pitch without violations during the actual pitching motion, such as a leap, replant, outside the lane, ball too far away from body, etc.

Legal or illegal?
So... was an illegal pitch called? If so, what was the reasoning? What sanction?

 

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It was ASA and no illegal pitches were called and I never said anything nor did I actually time the pause. It very well could have exceeded 10 seconds at times though. I re-read the rule and it was probably legal.

There were a few times during the pause where she twitched that I thought it could have been considered starting the windup then stopping. Just not used to seeing a pitcher stand still for so long. Finally had some of my hitters start calling time.

 

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Nothing described sounds illegal to me.

What part was called illegal or do you think is illegal?

**Added: You already answered that while I was typing!

 

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There were a few times during the pause where she twitched that I thought it could have been considered starting the windup then stopping. Just not used to seeing a pitcher stand still for so long. Finally had some of my hitters start calling time.

Good thing to teach the hitters in some situations so they do not get "froze" We tell our batters the same thing, just make sure the umpire actually grants the time out before the batter moves her foot out of the box. Some teams will try to run the clock by calling time with every pitch, but most umpires know this and do not allow it. Some pitchers will try to freeze the batter enough to mess up her swing, but all in all, I think it is more the pitcher getting mentally ready to throw the ball.

 

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It was ASA and no illegal pitches were called and I never said anything nor did I actually time the pause. It very well could have exceeded 10 seconds at times though. I re-read the rule and it was probably legal.

There were a few times during the pause where she twitched that I thought it could have been considered starting the windup then stopping. Just not used to seeing a pitcher stand still for so long. Finally had some of my hitters start calling time.

This is EXACTLY the effect it is supposed to have. Even 5 seconds seems like an eternity! Problem is, far too many pitchers "get in a groove" and turn into a pitching machine without varying their delivery timing. A pitcher who never varies this pause is not using all the tools provided for them.

Good hitters rely on timing - and anytime a pitcher can disrupt that timing, she's going to have an advantage. Remember, just because the batter requests time does not necessarily mean the umpire will grant it. That's why a smart pitcher will continue the pitch if the call is made at the last second.

P.S. "Flinching" during the pause is not illegal. It's not comparable to the "stretch" in baseball pitching, where only the head can move. The pitch does not officially start until the hands separate.