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Online now: 1 member: Metoy16; 9 anonymousDiscussion: Underhanded pitch
| Posted | Discussion |
| June 19 Michael Plunkett Men's 70 47 posts | I was looking for definition of what is underhanded. It seems it’s up to the umpire. If an umpire calls it illegal because it’s too side-arm there is no point questioning the umpire as it’s “in the eye of the beholder” from what I can find if 20 umpires call it legal and one umpire calls it illegal makes no difference. It’s pure judgement without regard to precedent and/or yesterday’s umpire. It’s no difference than calling a runner out or save at first. Each single umpire judgement. we have a tournment pitcher who has pitched for ten years that has never been called for too side-arm except by one specific umpire lately. Donna, If I understand correctly I have no recourse. |
| June 19 Donna McGuire 70 posts | USA Softball defines an underhand pitching motion as the pitcher having the hand below the hip and the wrist no farther from the body than the elbow. (That full wording is found in the fastpitch section of the rule book. The slowpitch section does not give the full sentence.) |
| June 21 Michael Plunkett Men's 70 47 posts | Thank you Donna, have seem the rule but administration of the rule seems to be very subjective and almost arbitrary as the same pitcher can pitch tournament after tournament with out issue and out of no wear an ump will call him as illegal. It’s very frustrating for the pitcher as he believes he’s legal … until he’s not! So questioning the ump about a judgment call, the pitcher and coach needs to live with the idea sometimes he’s going to be legal and sometimes he’s not. Also because it’s a judgement call there is no appeal to the rule book. Your thoughts on, not on the rule, but administration thereof might be helpful as pitcher has been removed from a game for questioning umpire’s illegal call. |
| June 27 Bruce M Men's 55 140 posts | Yes, Michael - I think I may know the pitcher of which you are speaking. I've officiated his pitching before. He a great guy and I've had no issues with him. I'll go with Donna's USA interpretation, which is safe...because she has a ton of expertise! He (and others) occasionally try to push the limit between what is underhand and what is side arm. When the barrier is breached, it usually manifests itself in a pitch with excessive speed. If it goes too far in my opinion, I call it an illegal pitch. If (and this usually doesn't happen) upon multiple warnings, the pitcher still wishes to argue, and thereby slows down the game, I'll caution them that upon the next discussion over the matter, I'll remove them from the mound. Same thing goes with the opposing manager. I'll have one discussion and explain it, but I also have to try to keep the flow of the game going. So, usually I'll try to have such discussions between innings (with managers) to avoid burning time on the clock. |
