Cleveland Sports Forum

Is this a legal pitch?

I know we have an umpire on the forum. What do you think?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-l ... 18242.html

High School both baseball and softball, delivery is illegal. Called a crow hop or replant. Can't help but think it must be legal in MLB cause he still does it.

Man, he's 3 feet closer to the plate and the ball is still behind his leg.

I'm watching Jordan Walden use that same delivery for the Cards right now, so it's obviously legal.

Legal, but not very wise. Apart from "deception" (fancy word for "something batters are not used to") that might be helpful, it appears to negate the advantage of pushing off with the back foot. The landing also looks unhealthy for the back foot.

I suspect that at some time in the past the Powers That Were said to themselves, "To be fair, the rule concerning legal deliveries must include the requirement that the pitcher be in contact with the pitching rubber when the ball is released." And then they said to themselves, "If we make that part of the rule, there will be at present a grand total of zero pitchers who are using legal deliveries."

The Orioles will play tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards, but with NO FANS!
I hope it's televised. That will be a strange sight!

They've done the same with European soccer games; then the rioters were the fans, not the neighbors.

Definitely a different experience, though there are some fans standing outside and watching through the gate.

Bryce Harper just got his 3rd homer in as many at bats today!

and Harper still is younger than anyone on the Indians' roster, Ramirez perhaps excepted.

The Indians are very lucky that Masterson turned down their offer.

Our ole buddy Bartolo is trying tonight to become the 1st pitcher in the majors to win 7 games.

Also, he has only walked 1 batter the entire year, and that was the first game. If he goes tonight without a walk he will be the first pitcher since Greg Maddux to have 7 starts in a row without a walk.

He already became only the 3rd pitcher over 40 years old to win 6 of his first 7 starts in a season. Clemens was the last.

Just crazy what he is doing at age 42, with his fastball down to 88 mph average.

Colon might be entirely self-taught. Can't see him listening to pitching coaches or trainers trying to get him to lose weight. Just seems like one of those guys that figured it out by listening to his own body and landing on his feet.

I just saw the score on the ticker and Brewers are blowing Mets out so Colon must have showed his age tonight.

but he didn't walk anyone