Windup Problems

[Jack_Wick]

"Rule 5.07(a) Comment: [...] The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch." 

1.1. What is this second step? 

1.2. What is meant by "reset"? 

But then: "Rule 5.07(1) [...] He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward and one step forward with his free foot." 

1.3. What is the first step backward? 

1.4. What is the second step forward? But didn't the comment above prohibit it? 

1.5. Can more than one rocker step be taken? 

1.6. In what direction can a rocker step be taken? Forward, backward, or sideways? 

1.7. Why "he shall not raise either foot"? Does the pitcher actually not lift his free foot? Don't you lift your foot to make a pickoff? 

 

Pivot Foot 

2. Must the pivot foot remain in contact with the pitcher's plate all along? During windup motion, after the rocker step, does the pivot foot lose contact with the rubber to position itself parallel to the rubber, or not (seconds 0.30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go0Lq1qQrxU)? OR do you have to rotate the pivot foot without ever breaking contact with the rubber? 

 

Free foot stance 

 

3. Pitching positions of the feet: in Umpirebible they say: "The free foot can be beside the rubber, but not in front of it. Some portion of the free foot must be touching or behind the red line marking the front of the pitching rubber" BUT in the rules: "In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his "free" foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.", so what has changed?  Does the free foot, in OBR, have to be in contact with the red line marking the front of the pitching rubber?

Thank you

[UmpireTommy]

I am going to give it my best shot to answer all these questions, the pitching positions rule is one of the hardest to understand but this is what I have learned over the years. 

 

1.1: I believe the second step you are referencing is as a result of MLB pitcher Carter Capps years ago where he would take a “jump step” in order to gain ground towards home plate on his pitch. Notice the jump that he does and that is now illegal under this rule. That is the easiest way to understand the rule. In words, the pitcher may not take another step towards home plate after lifting his foot to deliver the pitch. 

 

1.2: Once again, Carter Capps would jump off his back foot resetting the pivot foot many feet closer to home plate which is no longer allowed. 

 

Video: https://youtu.be/LycHv4CRHWY?si=BociY85PB1rQYVnI

 

1.3: The first step backward is referring to the common backward step that many pitcher do in order to get themselves in a position to throw the pitch. From the windup many pitchers take a step backward to put themselves in a position to throw a pitch. 

 

Video of Yamamoto doing this backwards step: https://youtu.be/lQMyQ3PewOQ?si=-CnyobFWen4T568Q

 

1.4: The above comment and rule 5.07(1) are referring to different things. Rule 5.07(1) is saying that pitchers may take one step backward and one step forward (the one step forward is the pitcher lifting his leg to deliver the pitch). While the comment in Rule 5.07(a) is saying that the pitcher may not take 2 steps forward like Carter Capps. 

 

1.5: No, in rule 5.07(1), it says you may take only one step backward, which would be your definition of a “rocker step” however, that term is not used in the rule book.

 

1.6: Under OBR the rule clearly says that the step must be backward, however, if you watch any big league pitcher many of them take steps to the side or even forward but that’s a conversation for another time. NCAA says that the step must not gain ground towards home plate. NFHS says the step may be forwards, sideways, or backwards.

 

1.7: When the rule says that “he shall not raise either foot” that is referring to before the delivery is started. When the pitcher takes a step backwards that is the start of his “actual delivery to the batter” which is why the rule continues to say that and why the step backwards is allowed. This rule does not apply for a pickoff.

 

2: Hopefully someone else can chime in because I am unsure about this rule as well.

 

3: Umpirebible is a great tool however it is very possible that it is either not updated, or that you may be looking at a different ruleset. I would stick with what the actual rule says which is “In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his "free" foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.” 

 

Hope this helps.  

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, UmpireTommy said:

 

 

2: Hopefully someone else can chime in because I am unsure about this rule as well.

 

 

The rule is meant to prevent “running into the pitch”. We allow breaking contact repositioning the pivot foot angle  as long as there is no advantage of gaining momentum in that lift. 

[Jack_Wick]

On 12/16/2025 at 11:42 PM, UmpireTommy said:

 

I am going to give it my best shot to answer all these questions, the pitching positions rule is one of the hardest to understand but this is what I have learned over the years. 

 

1.1: I believe the second step you are referencing is as a result of MLB pitcher Carter Capps years ago where he would take a “jump step” in order to gain ground towards home plate on his pitch. Notice the jump that he does and that is now illegal under this rule. That is the easiest way to understand the rule. In words, the pitcher may not take another step towards home plate after lifting his foot to deliver the pitch. 

 

1.2: Once again, Carter Capps would jump off his back foot resetting the pivot foot many feet closer to home plate which is no longer allowed. 

 

Video: https://youtu.be/LycHv4CRHWY?si=BociY85PB1rQYVnI

 

1.3: The first step backward is referring to the common backward step that many pitcher do in order to get themselves in a position to throw the pitch. From the windup many pitchers take a step backward to put themselves in a position to throw a pitch. 

 

Video of Yamamoto doing this backwards step: https://youtu.be/lQMyQ3PewOQ?si=-CnyobFWen4T568Q

 

1.4: The above comment and rule 5.07(1) are referring to different things. Rule 5.07(1) is saying that pitchers may take one step backward and one step forward (the one step forward is the pitcher lifting his leg to deliver the pitch). While the comment in Rule 5.07(a) is saying that the pitcher may not take 2 steps forward like Carter Capps. 

 

1.5: No, in rule 5.07(1), it says you may take only one step backward, which would be your definition of a “rocker step” however, that term is not used in the rule book.

 

1.6: Under OBR the rule clearly says that the step must be backward, however, if you watch any big league pitcher many of them take steps to the side or even forward but that’s a conversation for another time. NCAA says that the step must not gain ground towards home plate. NFHS says the step may be forwards, sideways, or backwards.

 

1.7: When the rule says that “he shall not raise either foot” that is referring to before the delivery is started. When the pitcher takes a step backwards that is the start of his “actual delivery to the batter” which is why the rule continues to say that and why the step backwards is allowed. This rule does not apply for a pickoff.

 

2: Hopefully someone else can chime in because I am unsure about this rule as well.

 

3: Umpirebible is a great tool however it is very possible that it is either not updated, or that you may be looking at a different ruleset. I would stick with what the actual rule says which is “In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his "free" foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.” 

 

Hope this helps.  

Thank you so much. Really thorough.

On 12/16/2025 at 11:42 PM, UmpireTommy said:

1.6: Under OBR the rule clearly says that the step must be backward, however, if you watch any big league pitcher many of them take steps to the side or even forward but that’s a conversation for another time. NCAA says that the step must not gain ground towards home plate. NFHS says the step may be forwards, sideways, or backwards.

So would a rocker step sideways or forward be illegal?