Quick Pitch ?

[mbrown2097]

R1, 0 outs.  Pitcher goes set, steps off of the rubber and fakes a throw to the base.  R1 dives back into the base.  Pitcher then quickly gets back on rubber, goes set, and delivers the pitch.  Obvious attempt to put the runner down and then deliver a pitch before he is ready to play.  To me it is an unfair advantage and not how the game is suppose to be played.  I can't find a rules reference on this as Quick Pitch only seems to apply to the batter being ready.  Anyone got a rule cite for me?  OBR.

[maven]

A quick pitch is an illegal pitch, a ball with no runners and a balk with runners on base. OBR 8.05(e)

[mbrown2097]

A quick pitch is an illegal pitch, a ball with no runners and a balk with runners on base. OBR 8.05(e)

The pitcher makes an illegal pitch;

Rule 8.05(e) Comment: A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as

one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty is

a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted.

 

Hey Maven,

Hows is my situation an illegal pitch?  I think it should be, just not seeing how an illegal pitch applies to a base runner being ready or not.

[maven]

Oh, I see what you're asking now. I thought you had ruled it a quick pitch and were simply asking for the reference.

 

A quick pitch is dangerous if the batter is not ready. That doesn't have much to do with the runner. If the batter was ready and F1 was otherwise legal, then R1's status is irrelevant. Simply stepping on the rubber, coming quickly set, and pitching is not by itself a quick pitch. F1 has complied with the requirements of the set position and made a legal pitch to a batter who is ready.

 

It's up to the offense to allow R1 time to set up: the batter's box rule 6.02(d)(1)(iv) allows the batter to step out after a pickoff attempt, and that would afford the runner time to get ready.

 

You're right that 8.05(e) does not mention the runner being ready.

[mbrown2097]

That is how we have been playing it up until now.  Offense 's job to slow it down by requesting time or stepping out.  I just don't like that though.  I feel like it's our job to ensure that the game is played fairly. (One team doesn't gain an unfair advantage over the other).and this play feels unfair to me.  I was hoping that there would be some rules support for me.  

[maven]

Yes, you're there to ensure fairness. But as you point out, the offense has legal means to ensure that their runner is ready for the next pitch. If they opt not to use them, we should not inject ourselves into the situation.

 

I'd never bother about this, except at a youth/instructional level, and then only when asked.

[noumpere]

If you (or the offense) stop it once, then the defense will stop playing that silly game and the rest of the game will go faster.

[mbrown2097]

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