Carter Capps controversial delivery

[Angrioter]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2015/04/14/805a254ffc0f95bb847ef453b5a5f7de.gif?1429026873

 

According to MLB.com, the delivery is fine as long as Capps moves laterally and drags his back foot rather than jumping straight up.

 

In a minor-league game earlier this year, an umpire ruled that Capps' delivery was illegal and called two-straight automatic balls. Later, Capps got a clarification from the league:

 

"They just said they wanted me to make sure I dragged my foot and not get too elevated in the air, and make sure it's more on a lateral plane. As long as I do that, they have no problem with it. But it was very strange."

 

This seems to meet the definition of "illegal pitch" in the MLB rulebook, which reads, "An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk."

 

The problem is that everyone violates the first part of this rule. Every pitcher's foot comes off the rubber before actually releasing the ball, so it's a rule that is pretty much just ignored.

 

But players normally don't stretch it as far as Capps is. What MLB wants is his back foot to be more a part of the natural motion of moving forward.

 

 

 

[TDotttt2005]

I cant speak to the interpretation of the rule, but this gif is making me nauseous.

[HERPDERP]

what the f*** is happening to his right leg?!

[Laika]

Jordan Walden does this too but Capps seems to almost re-plant that back foot.

[Inklink]

That is the most f'd up delivery you can come up with.

 

Watch the reverse angle closeup on the video below:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/carter-capps--delivery-will-probably-blow-your-mind-050618242.html

[Angrioter]

Walden

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/794721/WaldenMotion.gif.opt.gif

[ScientificReason]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2015/04/14/805a254ffc0f95bb847ef453b5a5f7de.gif?1429026873

 

 

 

 

 

 

LMAO wtf is that delivery? The bunny hop?

[TBJ12]

Looks like an overhand fastball delivery.

[Angrioter]

Peter Gammons

Yes, MLB has notified teams the Matt Capps dive is illegal

[o2cui2i]

The behind view is disgusting. His arm will be destroyed again soon. Getting an 8 foot extension may be worth it for the time being now though.

 

he's half way to home plate when he releases the ball. I would say that it would be ok if it was a natural motion, but this is not natural.

[saskjayfan]

he's half way to home plate when he releases the ball. I would say that it would be ok if it was a natural motion, but this is not natural.

 

The lost control and strain on his arm isn't worth being 2 to 3 feet closer to home than normal...

[o2cui2i]

The lost control and strain on his arm isn't worth being 2 to 3 feet closer to home than normal...

 

walden looks like he's putting a lot more torque on his elbow. Capps is just launching his starting point forward. watch when he starts his move from behind his back. he's already in his new position and walden is slinging through his entire move. I think Walden's move is legal. it's a fluid movement whereas Capps has several separate parts... at least as I see it mechanically.

[o2cui2i]

I don't get the point of this. Does it give him a slight velocity boost or being a half-foot closer to home-plate gives a slight advantage on the batter? Or it's deception? Maybe all of the above?

 

less reaction time for hitter. it's more than 2 feet closer. he hides the ball behind him so it's hard to pick up and all the funky movement would make it hard for a hitter.

[o2cui2i]

2 ft turns 95 into 98 and change.

 

it has to freak the hitters out having him right on top of them when he throws. he's at the front of the circle when he comes down. so his front foot is about 55" from the front edge of home plate, with his hand even closer. that would certainly freak me out. especially the way he hides the ball behind his back until he has kicked himself out away from the mound.

 

I think it goes against the spirit of the rule. Walden's move is fine because it's one fluid motion. Capps is doing some drunken version of triple jump.

 

hop, step, throw....

[Governator]

That's looks like a pile of BS to me. Pushing off the rubber if one thing, extending your back foot to repush off the dirt mound 2' closer to the batter should be completely illegal. You can see the push marks in the dirt where he resets his foot. It doesn't appear as one fluid motion to me.

[o2cui2i]

so people dont have to keep scrolling back to look

 

 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2015/04/14/805a254ffc0f95bb847ef453b5a5f7de.gif?1429026873

[o2cui2i]

That's looks like a pile of BS to me. Pushing off the rubber if one thing, extending your back foot to repush off the dirt mound 2' closer to the batter should be completely illegal. You can see the push marks in the dirt where he resets his foot. It doesn't appear as one fluid motion to me.

 

in tennis you can jump over the back line when serving as long as yo NEVER touch the line and you must hit the ball before you come down. For a short player it's the only way you can really drive a serve. if you cant jump serve then you have to throw the ball behind your head and go around the top of the ball to give yourself a kick serve.

 

Edberg and becker had 2 of the best.differnce, becker only used his for his second serve most days

 

edberg

 

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6785/sesv90wf05.gif

[admin]

Just saw the delivery for the first time. That is insane. The way he hides the ball as well makes it even crazier.

[o2cui2i]

Just saw the delivery for the first time. That is insane. The way he hides the ball as well makes it even crazier.

 

I don't see how it can be allowed. it's a definite advantage to only be 58ft from the plate?

[Brownie19]

so people dont have to keep scrolling back to look

 

 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2015/04/14/805a254ffc0f95bb847ef453b5a5f7de.gif?1429026873

 

Notice how he holds his glove hand "out" and lets his body come to it? He must have been watching Tom House pitching drills videos on Youtube Looks like he missed Tom's recommendations for the push off - found a triple jump video for that I guess.

[Frenchsoup]

That elbow looks about ready to explode.

[Dr Negative]

That delivery makes my ankles hurt.

[JaysFan4Ever]

I don't see how he can even pitch like that. It looks like he's sliding off/down the mound.

 

From my understanding of the rule, a pitcher's back leg/foot must be in contact with the rubber at all times prior to releasing the ball. If not it's a balk and/or the pitch doesn't count.

 

I didn't read through the thread so I apologize if it's been mentioned before but didn't the Jays have a pitcher who had a problem with that a number of years back (I don't think Chris Michalak) or they were playing someone where his foot would come off right before he released the ball.

 

This looks like a clear violation since it looks like he's 2-3 ft from the rubber before releasing the ball. But like I said I don't know how he can even pitch like that since it looks like he's sliding down the mound as he's going into his delivery.

[JaysFan4Ever]

That delivery makes my ankles hurt.

 

It makes my ankle want an ice pack.

[o2cui2i]

Notice how he holds his glove hand "out" and lets his body come to it? He must have been watching Tom House pitching drills videos on Youtube Looks like he missed Tom's recommendations for the push off - found a triple jump video for that I guess.

 

it has to be brutal for the hitter trying to pick up the ball. It would feel like the pitcher is going to hit you with his glove and then throw the ball

[Brownie19]

I don't see how he can even pitch like that. It looks like he's sliding off/down the mound.

 

From my understanding of the rule, a pitcher's back leg/foot must be in contact with the rubber at all times prior to releasing the ball. If not it's a balk and/or the pitch doesn't count.

 

I didn't read through the thread so I apologize if it's been mentioned before but didn't the Jays have a pitcher who had a problem with that a number of years back (I don't think Chris Michalak) or they were playing someone where his foot would come off right before he released the ball.

 

This looks like a clear violation since it looks like he's 2-3 ft from the rubber before releasing the ball. But like I said I don't know how he can even pitch like that since it looks like he's sliding down the mound as he's going into his delivery.

 

I imagine no pitcher in baseball still is in contact with the rubber when they release the ball...

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

Imagine if Randy Johnson had this delivery.

[King]

Awesome bump