Weird pitching motion

[refump10]

Had the weirdest thing the other day and I thought I'd share.  14U tourney, home team brings in relief pitcher with R1 & R3. I'm BU.  I vacated the middle of the field and was just watching the new F1 warm up. I'm gonna try to explain what he did.

 

His first pitch (this is during the warmup), he started from the windup position. Moved his non-pivot back while turning his body just like normal.  Then he placed his non-pivot foot in front of the rubber and stopped completely, just like in a set position.  Then kicked and delivered the pitch. 

 

It was so unusual, I had to watch it again.  Same thing.  I went and told the pitcher (and his coach, who hadn't left the mound yet) that this isn't legal.  the coach says, "yeah, he's just warming up, his stretch is fine."

 

OK

 

We get through the inning with no incident. His pitching from the set position was fine.

 

Fast forward to the next inning, I'm in A to begin the inning.  F1 is now throwing from the windup. The first pitch, he does the same thing as I saw in warmups.  The batter pops it up to F4.  While the ball was in the air, I'm coming in yelling "illegal pitch, ball one!".  HC wants an explanation, and I told him that the delivery must be continuous with no stopping.  F1 even said to me, "that's how Kershaw pitches".

 

HC gives me a look like I'm trying to pull something over on him, but accepts my explanation. I guess I'm throwing this out there to make sure I ruled it properly and to see if anybody else has seen anything like it. 

[maven]

If you judged that he came to a complete stop, the motion is not just weird, but illegal. Good call.

 

I would, however, be extremely lenient about whether something (eyelids, fingers) was moving....

[refump10]

He came to an absolutely complete stop.  Even took a big breath during/after the pause.  Never seen anything like it before. My partner said later he wanted to call something but the absurdity of it just froze him.

[JaxRolo]

Good call but I am surprised to hear that you didn't get more of an argument.

Most Umpires just let this go.

[refump10]

Yeah, Jax, I was expecting more from the coach. When I explained what I had to him, he just got this faraway look in his eyes then turned to F1 and said "don't do that anymore".

[noumpere]

It sounds to me like he went from the windup to the set without stepping off.  Kill it right there.

 

It's not an illegal pitch under OBR (nor a balk with no runners)

[grayhawk]

The only times you are going to penalize with a ball for an illegal pitch are when he delivers a pitch when not on the rubber, or on a quick pitch.  All the other "balk" moves with no runners is either nothing or a do over.

[refump10]

Grayhawk,

I just found this FED ruling: 6-2-1

 

(Penalty Art 1,2,3):The ball is dead immediately when an illegal pitch occurs. If there is no runner, a ball is awarded the batter.  If there is a runner, such illegal act is a balk. In both situations, the umpire signals a dead ball.

 

Not trying to be argumentative, just making sure I'm not missing something.

[noumpere]

FED vs. OBR.

[refump10]

Gotcha, thanks!  We were using FED rules. 

[chuck]

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays, pitches exactly like described from windup. On TV you have a limited view of him, usually top half. So, not positive something isn't moving, but looks like a stop. Kids copy what they see. Kinda like all the mini steps and gyrations MLB'rs do now while coming to set position.

[maven]

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays, pitches exactly like described from windup. On TV you have a limited view of him, usually top half. So, not positive something isn't moving, but looks like a stop. Kids copy what they see. Kinda like all the mini steps and gyrations MLB'rs do now while coming to set position.

 

In MLB, they'll allow it from the windup with nobody on. It's the price pitchers pay for the way they call EVERY FRICKIN TWITCH from the set.

 

When kids tell me, "Kershaw does that!" I tell them: "So can you when you're in the show!"

[JHSump]

Kershaw is pitching right now in he all star game.  He certainly does not come to a complete stop.

[ricka56]

Kershaw is pitching right now in he all star game.  He certainly does not come to a complete stop.

And Kershaw doesn't set that non-pivot down prior to his actual delivery step. I think that is what the kid in the OP is missing. The kid in the OP was setting his foot down in front of the rubber without delivering a pitch (illegal) and stopping (illegal).