Line? WHAT line?!

[ElkOil]

Please, somebody, give me visual for the following statement:

 

"...the line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. "

 

I cannot imagine what this looks like, so I can't quite my head around pitcher's foot placement.  I cannot find a diagram anywhere.

 

Until I started reading baseball rules, I thought I was a fairly intelligent person.

[Jimurray]

Please, somebody, give me visual for the following statement:

"...the line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. "

I cannot imagine what this looks like, so I can't quite my head around pitcher's foot placement. I cannot find a diagram anywhere.

Until I started reading baseball rules, I thought I was a fairly intelligent person.

Take a long flexible straight edge. Place it next to and parallel to the front edge of the rubber. Take your writing implement and scribe a line on the outfield side of the straightedge in the mound dirt as far as you think a pitcher could set up in the windup. Do this on both sides of the mound. You will have to do this every game until FED requires it to be chalked.

[ElkOil]

                                   Home

 

Imaginary line____________________

                                 | Rubber |

         

 

                                  Outfield

 

Like this?

[Jimurray]

Home

Imaginary line____________________

| Rubber |

Outfield

Like this?

Yes but I think the line thickness should be finer. The FED rule is very precise. And FED doesn't say it's imaginary which is why you have to scribe it.

[ElkOil]

Challenge accepted!  I hope this works because I couldn't post the image.

 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8relWZUX_qodkZDYkN0c2toZzg/view?usp=sharing

[Jimurray]

Challenge accepted! I hope this works because I couldn't post the image.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8relWZUX_qodkZDYkN0c2toZzg/view?usp=sharing

Is there a hook with bait at the end of this line?

[ElkOil]

No, I'm straight-up confused.

[Jimurray]

No, I'm straight-up confused.

Well then your depictions are correct and the free foot heel can't be in front of that line in the windup in FED.

[MadMax]

@Jimurray , why (do you think) NHFS is so anally pedantic and particular about this? (honest to goodness curious question)

[noumpere]

@Jimurray , why (do you think) NHFS is so anally pedantic and particular about this? (honest to goodness curious question)

Because some coach somewhere tried to "Cheat" by using the hybrid.

 

Because some coach somewhere thought the other coach was trying to "Cheat", and then complained that his runners couldn't tell the difference.

 

Because some ump somewhere got confused and called a balk even though no one else was confused.

 

Because NCAA changed to a similar rule (but NCAA just changed back this year -- we'll see if FED follows suit)

[ElkOil]

My understanding is that by FED 6-1, foot placement determines whether or not the pitcher is pitching from the set or the wind-up:

 

"The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position."

 

But based on some of the test questions, that isn't so.  For example, one of the test questions I had stated:

 

"The pitcher is in the wind-up position with no runners on base. His non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. This is an illegal position and at the time of the pitch an illegal pitch is declared. The batter is awarded a ball.  True or false."

 

How can he be in the wind-up when his feet are positioned in the set?

[Jimurray]

My understanding is that by FED 6-1, foot placement determines whether or not the pitcher is pitching from the set or the wind-up:

 

"The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position."

 

But based on some of the test questions, that isn't so.  For example, one of the test questions I had stated:

 

"The pitcher is in the wind-up position with no runners on base. His non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. This is an illegal position and at the time of the pitch an illegal pitch is declared. The batter is awarded a ball.  True or false."

 

How can he be in the wind-up when his feet are positioned in the set?

Give it up. FED won't change. When you sharpshoot them they reword the rule to reinforce what they want. They added the set foot must be parallel to the rubber. So if the pitchers pivot foot is not parallel he thus is the windup and if the free foot is in front it is illegal.

As to @MadMax question, I have no idea other than @noumpere's point that coaches are involved. But we also have many umpires on this site that do not like that Cliff Lee, Madison Bumgarner, and a few others can wind from what looks like the set position

[noumpere]

 

How can he be in the wind-up when his feet are positioned in the set?

Right -- that's why it's illegal (per FED).

 

You either need both feet (about) parallel, with one one front of the rubber, or both feet (about) perpendicular, with none in front of the rubber.

[maven]

Read "in the windup" as "intends to be in the windup."

[ElkOil]

Thanks, fellas.  Between your explanations and some additional info from my instructor this morning, I get it now.  He showed me some slides of excellent diagrams and clarified my big mental hurdle:  the definition of set and wind-up is different in FED than OBR.

 

And then we spent the whole day on two-umpire mechanics.  Gawd, it's confusing.

 

So... what's your personal experience with how long it took for these mechanics to become clear and second nature... or is there still a level of confusion?

[Pops]

Thanks, fellas.  Between your explanations and some additional info from my instructor this morning, I get it now.  He showed me some slides of excellent diagrams and clarified my big mental hurdle:  the definition of set and wind-up is different in FED than OBR.

 

And then we spent the whole day on two-umpire mechanics.  Gawd, it's confusing.

 

So... what's your personal experience with how long it took for these mechanics to become clear and second nature... or is there still a level of confusion?

As far as 2-man mechanics, you have to study and ask yourself questions about the many scenarios you might find yourself in during a game. Keep reading and visualize yourself on the field ...where is my best angle to see the play? what will I do if the ball is hit here or there? where will my partner be?  And probably most important when learning is to ask yourself:  WHY am I doing that mechanic in this situation? If you know why you're doing a mechanic, it will make more sense than just memorizing it. You'll find that the more games you do in the beginning, the more comfortable you'll get. Before every pitch, figure out what you'll do when the ball is hit. Then hustle.  And don't forget to talk it through with your partner before the game. Sometimes verbalizing it out-loud helps a lot. 

[JaxRolo]

My understanding is that by FED 6-1, foot placement determines whether or not the pitcher is pitching from the set or the wind-up:

 

"The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position."

 

But based on some of the test questions, that isn't so.  For example, one of the test questions I had stated:

 

"The pitcher is in the wind-up position with no runners on base. His non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. This is an illegal position and at the time of the pitch an illegal pitch is declared. The batter is awarded a ball.  True or false."

 

How can he be in the wind-up when his feet are positioned in the set?

What are you trying to say?

 

That question is obviously True

[ElkOil]

 

My understanding is that by FED 6-1, foot placement determines whether or not the pitcher is pitching from the set or the wind-up:

 

"The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position."

 

But based on some of the test questions, that isn't so.  For example, one of the test questions I had stated:

 

"The pitcher is in the wind-up position with no runners on base. His non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. This is an illegal position and at the time of the pitch an illegal pitch is declared. The batter is awarded a ball.  True or false."

 

How can he be in the wind-up when his feet are positioned in the set?

What are you trying to say?

 

That question is obviously True

 

 

Obvious, perhaps, to someone with experience, who is well-versed in the subtleties of the position of a high school pitcher's feet -- but not me (maybe you're being facetious?).  My confusion lies in that the rule states the foot position determines if the pitcher is in the set or the wind-up, but the test says that since his foot is entirely in front of the plate, he's in the wind-up, despite the fact that the definition of the set is that his non-pivot foot has to be entirely in front of the rubber.

 

So how can you say the pitcher is in one position when his feet dictate he is in the other?

[MPLSUMP]

He's illegally set up.

[ElkOil]

He's illegally set up.

 

How so?  What's illegal about it?  If his non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the rubber, isn't he -- by definition -- in the set position?

[Jimurray]

 

He's illegally set up.

 

How so?  What's illegal about it?  If his non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the rubber, isn't he -- by definition -- in the set position?

 

You could make a case for that if his pivot foot was entirely touching and parallel to the plate. The test question assumes you know that that is not the case when they state he is in the wind-up position.

Is FED giving you trouble because you are familiar with other codes or are you new to baseball.

[ElkOil]

 

 

He's illegally set up.

 

How so?  What's illegal about it?  If his non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the rubber, isn't he -- by definition -- in the set position?

 

You could make a case for that if his pivot foot was entirely touching and parallel to the plate. The test question assumes you know that that is not the case when they state he is in the wind-up position.

Is FED giving you trouble because you are familiar with other codes or are you new to baseball.

 

 

I'm brand new.  The only rules I ever paid attention to were OBR.  Now that I'm learning FED, I'm realizing there are some very subtle differences -- particularly with pitching -- that are confusing me.

[JaxRolo]

 

 

 

He's illegally set up.

 

How so?  What's illegal about it?  If his non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the rubber, isn't he -- by definition -- in the set position?

 

You could make a case for that if his pivot foot was entirely touching and parallel to the plate. The test question assumes you know that that is not the case when they state he is in the wind-up position.

Is FED giving you trouble because you are familiar with other codes or are you new to baseball.

 

 

I'm brand new.  The only rules I ever paid attention to were OBR.  Now that I'm learning FED, I'm realizing there are some very subtle differences -- particularly with pitching -- that are confusing me.

 

Don't worry it confuses most people. Just ask our member @ALStripes17

[ElkOil]

 

 

 

 

He's illegally set up.

 

How so?  What's illegal about it?  If his non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the rubber, isn't he -- by definition -- in the set position?

 

You could make a case for that if his pivot foot was entirely touching and parallel to the plate. The test question assumes you know that that is not the case when they state he is in the wind-up position.

Is FED giving you trouble because you are familiar with other codes or are you new to baseball.

 

 

I'm brand new.  The only rules I ever paid attention to were OBR.  Now that I'm learning FED, I'm realizing there are some very subtle differences -- particularly with pitching -- that are confusing me.

 

Don't worry it confuses most people. Just ask our member @ALStripes17 !

 

 

I know that it'll make more sense as I gain experience.  I'm sure it'll be bumpy early on.

[JaxRolo]

@ElkOil

 

Send me your email and I will send you a document that may help