Crow Hopping

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

osagedr

Canadian Fastpitch Dad
Oct 20, 2016
280
28
No longer just a problem in softball - but MLB has apparently introduced a new rule this year to prevent this.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LycHv4CRHWY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Nice find! Will be interesting to see if he gets called for it in the big leagues. [MENTION=10413]riseball[/MENTION] - it will be interesting to see if this generates any discussion on the NCAA enforcing the rules.
 
Last edited:

osagedr

Canadian Fastpitch Dad
Oct 20, 2016
280
28
Always frustrating when the rules are not enforced. Last year played against a team where the ump was in total control (had him in a number of games in a tourney we played that weekend) and called IP after IP because the pitcher was not pausing properly - oftentimes umps are afraid to enforce the rules surrounding pitching and I have no idea why. Later in the season back in our own playoffs; clear crow-hopping so I (was coaching) asked the ump. He's like "Yeah, I mentioned it to the coach." Ummmm...and then just decided to allow the kid to cheat? I didn't make a big deal out of it but it's always disappointing when the rules aren't enforced. Hard for kids who observe the rules to watch others break them and gain an advantage without fear of reprisal.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
No longer just a problem in softball - but MLB has apparently introduced a new rule this year to prevent this.
What is the new rule?

Capps was awesome for fantasy BB with his 16.8 K/9. He blew out his arm and is just now returning. Will be interesting to see what is done I thought earlier they decide he had a legal delivery.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
This MLB pitcher (similar to men's fastpitch) is getting closer to the batter with his "Crow Hop" unlike Barnhill and Silkwood in fastpitch who are merely "replanting" but not crowhopping forward to extend the leap.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I wonder how much he is going down the mound elevation wise.

One difference is we pitch on a flat surface and they are elevated. I know if they raise the mound even a little it gives P more of an advantage.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
No longer just a problem in softball - but MLB has apparently introduced a new rule this year to prevent this.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LycHv4CRHWY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Maybe I'm not seeing something right, but… it seems like a lot of wasted motion in his delivery to me to do that crowhop. Wouldn't he lose a lot of power doing that?
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
Maybe I'm not seeing something right, but… it seems like a lot of wasted motion in his delivery to me to do that crowhop. Wouldn't he lose a lot of power doing that?
I'm guessing you haven't see Carter Capps MLB strikeout rates which are off the charts.

Carter Capps Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

But he hasn't pitched in MLB since 2015 due to Tommy John Surgery. He's slated to make his spring debut for the Padres later this month.

Be interesting to see if his delivery has changed.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
And the replant is legal?

I never said the replant was legal, my point was that replant (in and of itself) doesn't gain a distance advantage towards home plate like a true crow hop does (i.e. the men's fastpitch game). Apparently the governing bodies don't think it's an advantage either as replants have never been called in a softball game (at least the hundreds of games I have watched in person).

For all those purists out there that scream "illegal" and a "travesty" to the rules for leapers and replanters; how many pitchers have they coached and/or whose DDs stride outside the width of the 24 inch pitching plate (especially when throwing the screwball) or whose wrist is farther away from the body than the elbow during the windmill circle and never, ever get called for an IP? To me it's selective outrage and hypocritical to focus on just one aspect of the pitching rules and label someone like Barnhill as "illegal" and therefore any accomplishments she achieves in her career are null and void. It's not like these pitchers are taking steroids (PEDs) and gaining an unfair advantage....

With that said, I am in favor of moving the pitching distance back to 46 feet and let the women pitch under the same rules as the men.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top