illegal pitching not called

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Feb 27, 2017
95
0
Late in the game, I say to the field ump, that's an illegal pitch. All the girls pitches were illegal. She was taking a sign with ball in hand, stepping on the rubber and going straight into the windmill motion. No hesitation, no going to the glove. Umpire said she wasn't going to call it, during this part of the game ( meaning the late inning) If its a rule , they should enforce it. I as a coach shouldn't have to point out the infraction to get the call. The ump said that my pitcher was doing this as well, which was complete BS. This was also suppose to be a "National Tournament" , call it , so the coaches can correct it. VERY FRUSTRATED.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Dont feel bad, didnt sit and watch every 16 and 18 gold game played last weekend but spot checked several times a day and ran through all the games to see what was happening. Probably 80% of the pitchers were doing exactly what you have described and not being called, and this was the national gold tournament. It was even a point of emphasis this year in NFHS and I think I saw 1 umpire call it 1 time. Either the sanctioning bodies need to come down on all the umpires and tell them to call the pitching rules as written or they just need to rewrite the rules and take out all the garbage no one is ever calling.

The not simulating a signal started rearing its head about 5 years ago and has gotten progressively worse since the wrist bands have become vogue. Its almost an epidemic now with the vast majority of pitchers doing it and it is simply being ignored. As you said about the umpire saying they werent going to call it, I brought it up in an umpire clinic a few years back and was berated for even considering it to be illegal and why would anyone call something so trivial. Yet one of the officials that was so adamant about not calling it I have personally seen call a phantom illegal pitch for a pitcher touching their hair and not wiping their hand.
 
May 4, 2016
70
18
East Coast
Most rules are written to prevent one party from gaining an advantage over the other party. While we all want rules to be followed and have our own pet peeves, if neither party is gaining an advantage, is it worth boiling over?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
And how can you possibly determine if a pitcher is gaining an advantage or not unless you enforce the rules as written? Nowhere in the rule book does it ever say anything about a rule only applying if the player is gaining an advantage.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
We simulate a sign from the catcher and the pitcher gives a head nod in agreement. This solves all of the above problems and keeps the game moving along.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Most rules are written to prevent one party from gaining an advantage over the other party. While we all want rules to be followed and have our own pet peeves, if neither party is gaining an advantage, is it worth boiling over?

That is a garbage argument that you usually hear from lazy umpires
 

2br02b

Trabant swing
Jul 25, 2017
303
43
And how can you possibly determine if a pitcher is gaining an advantage or not unless you enforce the rules as written? Nowhere in the rule book does it ever say anything about a rule only applying if the player is gaining an advantage.

After a frustrating experience with an ump who refused to call an illegal crow hop a few weeks ago, we decided to ask if we can choose a rule to ignore the next time we come across an ump who doesn't care about the rules...
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Sure went well for you. :)

I always win my case when I pull cell phone out and show them video.

DD'still games, a bunch, 0 illegal pitches. Been warned then ignored.
 
Sep 5, 2012
53
8
Dont feel bad, didnt sit and watch every 16 and 18 gold game played last weekend but spot checked several times a day and ran through all the games to see what was happening. Probably 80% of the pitchers were doing exactly what you have described and not being called, and this was the national gold tournament. It was even a point of emphasis this year in NFHS and I think I saw 1 umpire call it 1 time. Either the sanctioning bodies need to come down on all the umpires and tell them to call the pitching rules as written or they just need to rewrite the rules and take out all the garbage no one is ever calling.

The not simulating a signal started rearing its head about 5 years ago and has gotten progressively worse since the wrist bands have become vogue. Its almost an epidemic now with the vast majority of pitchers doing it and it is simply being ignored. As you said about the umpire saying they werent going to call it, I brought it up in an umpire clinic a few years back and was berated for even considering it to be illegal and why would anyone call something so trivial. Yet one of the officials that was so adamant about not calling it I have personally seen call a phantom illegal pitch for a pitcher touching their hair and not wiping their hand.


While I don't disagree with you, there are a couple of things I will say...........

As an umpire, I've done a few national tournaments. There are always a lot of D1 & D2 coaches at the big events. My experience has generally been that although we are there to officiate, we are to let the players play. They are the reason for the event & are there to be seen. For 18U Gold, most of the girls are already committed & 16U Gold is what most of the college coaches are there for. There are certain infractions that we're "encouraged" to show leniency on. Minor pitching infractions & slap hitters being out of the box are probably the 2 big ones.

It'd have to be something pretty flagrant to be called at a national gold event or at a showcase. If there a minor flaws, just let it go & let their potential college coach deem whether said flaw is a worthy or necessary fix.
 

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