Can we start a discussion on [Royals' pitcher Bruce Chen's] "quick pitch"?With HP Umpire Mike Everitt presiding, Bruce Chen was called for an illegal pitch while facing White Sox batter Brent Morel... but was it really a "quick pitch?" Rule 8.01 defines two legal pitching positions: the Windup and Set [or Stretch] Positions. In this clip, Chen uses the Windup Position, wherein "any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration." In the clip shown, it appears Chen jumbled several movements together, including a 'misstep' with his left (pivot) foot while in contact with the rubber, which under Rule 8.01(d), is an illegal pitch, the penalty for which (with the bases unoccupied) is a ball. From the Windup, the pitcher may move his free foot one step back, not his pivot foot. Rule 8.05(e) Comment specifically defines the 'Quick Pitch' as a ball delivered before the batter is "reasonably set in the batter's box," the penalty for which is an automatic ball (as in Rule 8.01[d]). 8.05(e) Comment shifts the focus from the pitcher to the batter. Discussion: Were Chen's actions illegal? Under 8.01(a), 8.05(e) Comment, or both? In a related story, Anonymous writes....
Does anyone know what happened here, I thought that with no runners on, a quick pitch was ruled a ball. Did the umpire have the stop sign up because he himself wasnt ready, or was it a quick pitch because posada wasn't readyThis half-month old comment refers to a call made by Home Plate umpire Ed Rapuano during the July 19th Yankees-Rays game. In the top of the 9th inning, with a 0-2 count and one out with nobody on base, Rays pitcher Joel Peralta threw a pitch to Yankees batter Jorge Posada. The pitch was deemed by Rapuano to be a quick pitch (illegal pitch); curiously, Rapuano did not call for an automatic ball as prescribed by rule: the count remained 0-2. Discussion: Was this the correct call? Why wasn't a ball added to the count, or was the scorer just not paying attention?
Though these two plays did not result in ejection, Rules 8.01 & 8.05(e) Comment have played a part in two heave-hos so far this season. Both ejections, Rob Drake (1) and Ed Hickox (1), were quick pitch no calls and both were ruled to have a Quality of Correctness of Correct.
Rule #1. Igore the commentators. They came ready to talk about 'quick pitches' because of Hochevar's history. But in the long run, they're really just making assumptions about what is being said.
ReplyDeleteBeyond that, this is a good call. Not one you're likely to see often, but a good one. That same move with runners on would have been a definite balk. Chen stops moving, then resets his pivot foot on the rubber, then stops again, then pitches.
@ Jon: I agree with Rule #1 entirely. BUT the interpretation of the quick pitch is not what Mike applied.
ReplyDeleteThe quick pitch rule is applied to make sure the batter has a fair chance to get into the box and is set and ready to bat.
tmac is right. This is not a quick pitch at all. The batter had plenty of time to get in the box and get ready.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why this was called by the PU. Maybe someone else has a different opinion.
I never said it was a quick pitch, and that's why I said to ignore the commentators. He didn't pitch too fast, he just moved in ways that aren't allowed. Hence the illegal pitch.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a quick pitch because the batter was set and ready to hit. Because a pitcher changes the speed of his windup is not against the rules. Sometimes it happens, the rules were misapplied here. Lucky it didn't lead to a protested game, because the plate umpire didn't have a leg to stand on.
ReplyDeleteA slide step is allowed because your not changing the speed of the motion, your just eliminating part of the delivery by picking your leg up and immediately going towards the plate. Anything quicker than a slide step would be called a balk. You CANNOT change the speed of delivery to the plate. Throwing ahead of the step, before the foot lands, is a quick pitch balk when runners are on. The pitcher cannot take a small step when the runner is stealing, he can slide step, but not any quicker than he's done all game. The pitcher can alter how long he pauses, but the motion cannot change. When I say "cannot change motion" of course there will be a small amount of variance from pitch to pitch with regards to the motion of the pitcher to the plate. But he can't turn into flash gordon and fire home on a steal.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how you "slide step" from the windup position? A "slide step" is used from the set position. It is used when there is a runner on first base and the pitcher, after coming set, does not pick up his leg in his usual motion, instead sliding it towards the plate to cut down on the time it takes to deliver the all to the plate. In the Chen pitch, he speeds up the windup, nothing wrong there. The rule states, he "may" move his free foot back, doesn't say he has too. Umpire erred. As for Perralta, since the rules committee ruled the pitcher no longer has to come set with no runners on, as long as the batter is in the box and ready to hit, this is a legal pitch. How Rapuano can arbitrarily rule "no pitch" is making up his own rules. It's either a pitch, ball or strike, or you rule a quick pitch, which would result in a ball call. It has to be one or the other.
ReplyDeleteThe slide step comment was an example. If you really believe the pitcher can change the speed of delivery in either the set or windup position your sadly mistaken. How do I know this? Because a big league umpire has said so. The fundamental principal is the pitcher deceiving. Let's see why would a pitcher use a 3 second delivery, and then on the next pitch, shorten the same delivery by over a second? Is that because the mechanics of pitching dictate that a curve ball should be held longer than when say a fastball is thrown? Does that even sound correct? Wouldn't that lead the scouting report to say the pitcher tips his pitches based off the speed of delivery? Batters would hit .500 off a guy who did that.
ReplyDeleteSo, back to the reason the pitcher did this quick pitch from the windup. It can be for only 1 reason, to deceive the batter. Even if he accidentally made the quick delivery the result was the same, the batter wasn't ready.
I cannot believe people would not start from a perspective, on this play, that the umpire probably has seen this before, and knows what it is all about. But no, on this site a big league umpire gets accused of making up rules.
While the delivery may have been legal by itself, when you compare it to the rest of the deliveries, that's when you can see how it would be called a quick pitch. Why don't you see more pitchers doing this? Why? Because it's not allowed, and they know it.
If you state the Delivery is legal by itself then......it's legal. There is nothing in the rule book that says he has to do the same motion every time. I believe the good book says "deceiving the runner" not the batter, in reference to a balk. Once again when calling time after the pitch comes in you have two choices, pitch or illegal pitch. Either way you are ending up with a ball or strike added to the count, unless there are runners in. To do a do
ReplyDeleteover is.......making up Your own rules.
You cannot change your delivery time to the plate. Without using the rule book, what is a quick pitch? Quick? Is it faster than normal? Huh?
ReplyDeleteYou seem to think if the pitcher is touching the rubber, he's allowed pitch anyway he wants. You have 3, and only 3 options as a pitcher. Slide step, with a similar motion to the plate. High leg kick, or normal leg kick. All 3 of these must have the same timing when delivering to the plate. There can be slight differences, but you cannot speed up at all.
Is this a balk?
Pitcher picks his leg up, pitcher hears the words, "He's going". The pitcher puts his foot down immediately, and throws to the plate. You must keep your delivery basically the same, as far as length of time is concerned. Why else is the word quick pitch even used?
Please tell me where is says you have to keep your delivery "basically" the same. Also, where does it say you have 3 Options as a pitcher? I'm trying to help you here. You seem to Be making up your own interpretations without backing from the book. Either way, if you think Rapuano was right and it was a "quick pitch" then it is an illegal pitch, which shall be ruled a ball. I repeat......not a do over. You must agree with that....
ReplyDelete