NFHS Windup

[MonroeUmp]

NFHS. This was a situation I had several years ago, and I'm curious if others have come across this. I'll number the exact moment so that we can have a productive argument:

a. R3. Pitcher steps onto rubber in windup, hands separate. 

b. Pitcher brings his hands together,  belly button level, and pauses.

c. Pitcher takes the sign, nods to catcher.

d. Pitcher raises joined hands to about chin level and stops again for a second or so.

e. Pitcher takes a rocker step and delivers the pitch.

 

What is the latest point in this sequence that he can disengage and throw to 3rd base?

 

 

[Haven't posted here in years! Go easy on me these first few questions.]

 

 

 

[Jimurray]

14 hours ago, MonroeUmp said:

NFHS. This was a situation I had several years ago, and I'm curious if others have come across this. I'll number the exact moment so that we can have a productive argument:

a. R3. Pitcher steps onto rubber in windup, hands separate. 

b. Pitcher brings his hands together,  belly button level, and pauses.

c. Pitcher takes the sign, nods to catcher.

d. Pitcher raises joined hands to about chin level and stops again for a second or so.

e. Pitcher takes a rocker step and delivers the pitch.

 

What is the latest point in this sequence that he can disengage and throw to 3rd base?

 

 

[Haven't posted here in years! Go easy on me these first few questions.]

 

 

 

Strict application of the FED TOP rule would make it "a.", "b." would be called as a balk. In my neck of the woods I can judge the hands coming together in a staggered manner and not TOP. I would consider "d." as TOP. He could disengage between "c." and "d."

[Senor Azul]

For step (b):  If the pitcher steps onto the pitcher's plate in the windup position with both hands at his side, he may move one hand at a time to bring them together and stop. He may then deliver or step off. See case play 6.1.2H.

If he steps onto the pitcher's plate with both hands apart, when he begins to move both hands simultaneously, that is the start of a pitch. See case play 2.28.3C (the time of the pitch occurred when the pitcher moved both of his arms). 

For step (d):  Under FED rules a pitcher may not pause in the windup position once he has moved any part of his body such as he habitually uses in his delivery.