Can the Umpire call a pitch illegal for excessive speed or does he just give a warning to the pitcher ?????

he should do both.. and part of the warning would be removal from the pitching position for the remainder of the game

Like many of the pitching rules it is rarely called. In my years of playing I have seen it called only once. I am probably one of the big offenders of this rule but never been called on it.

Guys: Thanks for you response. I agree with the illegal call but the Rule Book only states a "warning".

I have a difficult time trying to imagine a ball being pitched with "excessive speed" in a high arc league (5-10 feet or 6-12 feet). It would have to border on a flat, low pitch in order to have any momentum to hit the front or front edge and be a strike when using a strike plate.
How fast can the speed be when in a low or high pitched lobbed ball?
Just curious.

baseballbill... there can be more than a warning.. here is the rule... as I posted earlier if continued the pitcher would be removed from the pitching position...
RULE 6.6... G. The pitch shall be released at a moderate speed. The speed is left entirely up to the umpire’s judgment. The umpire shall warn the pitcher who delivers a pitch with excessive speed. If the pitcher repeats such an act after being warned, he shall be removed from the pitcher's position for the remainder of the game.

Turbo.. you are correct they are flat pitches and the excessive speed is all umpire judgement