Quick pitch?

[flash277]

At the game behind the plate. The pitcher is a quick pitch pitcher, the batter wasn’t really ready ( yes I didn’t have hand up it’s 95 degrees!). Now USSSA rules defines a quick pitch, but it’s not in the pitching rules, can any umpire or anyone help me here at the field, I need this answer......quickly!

 

[The Man In Blue]

Got you brother:




You are going to have to exert some control and use that hand. Her Coach is probably going to argue the batter is in the box, but that isn’t the rule.


PS — this is a weekend I am glad that I took the summer off! Take care of yourself and hydrate! My son is working all weekend and I got on him to start drinking water on Thursday.

 

[flash277]

I see that now Ibut I really don’t have to hold hand up, it’s in the rulrs

 

[flash277]

So being in the box isn’t in position, is it?

 

[quincy]

I do not think so, judgement call.

Depending on the age if they are taking a sign from the coach while in the box no quick pitch.

 

[The Man In Blue]

I see that now Ibut I really don’t have to hold hand up, it’s in the rulrs

So being in the box isn’t in position, is it?

No, you don’t have to, but it shows that you are aware and are trying to control/help instead of just being an a##.

No, being in the box is not the same as being in position. (Spirit of the game is fair play, not advantage by technicalities)

 

[testandor]

I had two of these type pitchers this weekend - one Saturday (18U) and one today (16U). Both did the same thing. They were ready to pitch that ball right away, whether the batter was ready or not. IMO, the only way to stop that is to remain in an upright position and hold your hand up the second she puts her pivot foot on the rubber. As the batter is set, I drop my hand and get down in a set position. Once the pitcher knows you’re going to do that, she won’t try to quick pitch. But because the batter knows that pitch is coming, she tends to get set quicker. Almost always, a very manageable problem. But plate umpire has to take control.

 

[jackfrost]

I had two of these type pitchers this weekend - one Saturday (18U) and one today (16U). Both did the same thing. They were ready to pitch that ball right away, whether the batter was ready or not. IMO, the only way to stop that is to remain in an upright position and hold your hand up the second she puts her pivot foot on the rubber. As the batter is set, I drop my hand and get down in a set position. Once the pitcher knows you’re going to do that, she won’t try to quick pitch. But because the batter knows that pitch is coming, she tends to get set quicker. Almost always, a very manageable problem. But plate umpire has to take control.

By rule, pitcher is not allowed to pitch until the batter is ready. (Admittedly some of the rule wording is awkward such as "the batter is off-balance"). The pitcher is required to follow the rules and wait for the batter to get set.

If a Quick Pitch is happening, I immediately stand up, put both hands up and yell No Pitch. Once the pitch is stopped or thrown, I step out from behind the catcher and instruct the pitcher. "Please wait until the batter is ready before you begin your pitch." if it continues, i turn to the coach and restate that the pitcher must wait for the batter to ready. Sometimes it gets straightened out. other times you hear, "She's in the box." If its a problem, deal with it as a warning followed by action to remove the pitcher. But Quick Pitch is not allowed by rule, its the pitcher's responsibility to follow the rules. Its not a requirement for the umpire to put a hand up on every pitch. I only put a hand up if something unusual is happening like a ball on the field, a kid tying a shoe, etc.

 

[The Man In Blue]

I agree with @jackfrost ... after four or five “NO PITCH!” calls, somebody better figure it out.

 

[Lance Steckler]

actually, if pitcher is ready and ump indicates to pitch, it's the batters job to be ready.