Once the batter has both feet in the batter's box, the pitcher is free to pitch, right?
Have you heard that before or faced a quick working pitcher that messes up your rhythm
at the plate?
We cover that situation next.
During the Little League World Series 2016 game between Oregon and Rhode Island, we see
a common misconception by many players and coaches about when a pitch may be delivered.
I have often heard people recite the so-called rule that once the batter is standing in the
batter's box, the pitcher may pitch the ball.
If the batter isn't ready, tough luck, right?
Actually, wrong.
Rule 8.05 (e) (for both Little League and Major League BasebalL) It is an illegal pitch
when the pitcher makes a "quick pitch" Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered
before the batter is reasonably set in the batter's box.
In Little League, the penalty for delivering a quick pitch is to rule the pitch a ball,
unless of course the ball is hit.
I have found that it's common for the first quick pitch to get by the umpire.
It's very rare and not something we really look for in a game.
Here the batter and coach point it out and now the umpire is all over the issue making
sure the batter is reasonably set.
In this game we clearly see the batter and pitcher in a stubborn dule.
The batter has a longer than normal set-up and the pitcher wants to keep his rhythm and
deliver the pitch quickly, and for a time we have a bit of a back and forth and in this
case, the batter is going to win this battle.
The best thing in this situation is for the catcher to talk with his pitcher.
Don't let too many pitches go by and allow frustration to set in.
Furthermore, the catcher can also help by delaying his giving of the sign.
The pitcher's rhythm isn't really tied to the batter, but the catcher.
By holding off on the sign while the batter get's set, the catcher helps maintain the
rhythm for this at bat and helps keep his pitcher from having to divert his attention
to making sure the batter is ready.
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