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Does a pitcher's foot still have to be on the rubber when releasing the ball? If so, how can Carter Capps pitching be legal?
Normal pitching motion and release
Anonymous asked: Capps (Miami Marlins) is clearly off of the rubber when he releases the ball. The rule does not actually speak to the pivot foot actually disengaging the pitcher's plate, other than to make a throw to a base in a pickoff attempt, or to step back and reset. It does say the delivery motion has to be without alteration. To me, when the pivot hits the ground and becomes a base from which to finish that pitch, the delivery motion has been altered. I was not a pitcher. As a hitter, I would have trouble accepting that he is not receiving a greater advantage when allowed to jump out, set that foot down and throw. Pitchers already have the advantage of the mound height; which over the years has been tampered with depending on whether MLB felt the game needed more scoring, or less scoring. They say that a pitch thrown at 100 mph gives the hitter the "old hide and seek count of 1001" to make a decision on whether to swing or not. This one looks to become a debate as the season moves forward. If pitcher's are successful with this action, hitters will be lobbying for a clarification of the rule. If it works out that, even with the distance advantage, the jumping action negates a pitcher's accuracy, it will become a mute point. Certainly, the rule as written needs better verbiage. Not sure MLB saw this one coming! Yours in baseball, Rick
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