We just played our last indoor tournament and ran into another pitcher/coach combination that allows a player to pitch illegally. It was our first game into the tournament in which the loser was dropped to the "loser bracket". It was a good game with both teams putting a couple runs up and exchanging the lead a couple times within the first 4 innings. They went up 4-2 in the bottom of the 4th with time running down. We loaded the bases with no outs and then the drama started. The opposing coach made a pitching change and she was given 5 warm up pitches before facing her first batter. It was on her second warm up pitch that I noticed that not only was she the biggest crow-hopper that I have ever seen, she was stepping 8" ahead of the pitching rubber before she began her pitch. I pointed both issues out to our assistant coach who alerted the field umpire of the issue. We were seated on the third base side and the opposing teams head coach heard the problem and instantly began a verbal onslaught of negative comments, both to our coaches and parents. Not one time did we direct any of our comments towards the pitcher or the coach. Our coaching staff attempted to talk to the field up. The field umpire broke up the verbal argument by telling our coach that she wasn't illegal, and for him to coach and he would do the umpiring. The verbal argument continued by the opposing coach kept attacking our parents. Fast forward to Saturday to when one of our parents spoke to the UIC and showed him a series of photos that clearly showed the pitcher stepping ahead of the rubber and leaping 4" above the ground during her pitch sequence. He called the pitching "obviously illegal" and asked what time/diamond we played on and said that he would "take care of the problem".
As a parent of a pitcher I am very critical of illegal pitching. I will admit that it chaps me. I have been told by umpires that the pitcher is not gaining an advantage. My response was for the umpire to show me in the rule book where it gives a player the right to pitch as long as they don't gain an advantage. His response was that when the pitcher goes to State and National tournaments that the illegal pitch will be called then. My response? If it is illegal there, isn't it illegal now? The umpire walks away.....
So what is the proper way of getting the umpire to actually do their job and enforce the rules on illegal pitching? Obviously asking him to watch the pitcher throw where she crow hops isn't enough evidence. Informing the umpire that the foot must maintain contact with the ground doesn't work either. I highly doubt showing the umpire the rule book where it explains the legal way to pitch would work either....
I'm frustrated, but not because we lost the game. They are a better team, much better. The way that the umpire refused to do their job and even discuss the issue with our coaching staff is the frustrating part. To me, calling an illegal pitch is a very easy call, yet it never gets called.
As a parent of a pitcher I am very critical of illegal pitching. I will admit that it chaps me. I have been told by umpires that the pitcher is not gaining an advantage. My response was for the umpire to show me in the rule book where it gives a player the right to pitch as long as they don't gain an advantage. His response was that when the pitcher goes to State and National tournaments that the illegal pitch will be called then. My response? If it is illegal there, isn't it illegal now? The umpire walks away.....
So what is the proper way of getting the umpire to actually do their job and enforce the rules on illegal pitching? Obviously asking him to watch the pitcher throw where she crow hops isn't enough evidence. Informing the umpire that the foot must maintain contact with the ground doesn't work either. I highly doubt showing the umpire the rule book where it explains the legal way to pitch would work either....
I'm frustrated, but not because we lost the game. They are a better team, much better. The way that the umpire refused to do their job and even discuss the issue with our coaching staff is the frustrating part. To me, calling an illegal pitch is a very easy call, yet it never gets called.
