Make the Call: IP or Not?

[coachEd]

For all the blues out there, what's your call (if anything) in the following scenario. ASA rules.

RHP takes the signal from the C while standing behind the rubber. In this position, P is standing with right foot back completely off the rubber, and left foot forward with toe touching backside of the rubber. While taking the sign in this position (toe touching but right foot completely off the rubber), P is rolling the ball in and out of the glove. P takes the sign from this position, then steps onto the rubber with her right foot to assume the pitching position (both feet now on the rubber and ball in her bare hand when she steps on the rubber). P starts with her hands apart, pauses to appear to take the sign, then brings her hands together and proceeds to delivery the pitch.

Should the blue call an IP?

After some responses, I will let you know what the blue had to say about this and whether or not he made a call.

[tcannizzo]

If I read correctly, there is no IP here.

[Comp]

Pitcher may take the signal from anywhere she pleases and from anyone. As long as she simulated taking a signal after engaging with the hands separated there is nothing illegal in your description of the pitching preliminaries.

[jonriv]

I guess the question would be how long the pause and was it areasonable tinme to take(albeit fake) signal

[coachEd]

The call had nothing to do with the pause. In this scenario, the blue called an IP saying the pitcher had her left toe touching the rubber and was bringing her hands together and then breaking them multiple times. This was, of course, all before she assumed the pitching position on the rubber with both feet and instead, was standing behind the rubber. The call was not because she took the signal off the rubber because he called the IP before she even stepped onto the rubber with her right foot and before the C had even given the signal (C was looking to coach for pitch sign and batter was in the box ready to go).

The 1B coach was in the umps ear for 2+ innings on this, and the blue said nothing about it and let the P go on in this manner for 6-7 batters. Then, out of nowhere he makes an IP call. The timing of the IP call also could not have been worse, because it was now the last inning with tying run on 1B and no outs, moving runner to 2nd and batter then hit a sure DP ball to 2B.

[swells9232]

In order for an IP to be called the pitcher must "take a pitching position in contact with the pitcher's plate, the pitcher must have their hands separated and must have the ball in either the glove or the pitching hand" (Rule 6 Section 1 A), but in 6,1,C: "The pitcher shall take a position with both feet in contact with the pitcher's plate".

If the umpire is calling the pitcher taking a pitching position and therefore a IP by manipulating the ball between her hand and glove, is not considering that the pitcher shall take the pitching position with Both feet in contact with the pitching plate.

[Comp]

No basis for the umpire calling an illegal pitch in the scenario you have presented. The pitcher can do pretty much anything they want until they engage the pitching plate. Having just 1 foot touching it is not engaging the pitching plate.

[heyblue]

Besides comp being correct, there's another element.
The base ump has responsibility for the feet, the plate has responsibilty for the hands, if I'm reading your post right.

[Bretman]

Besides comp being correct, there's another element.
The base ump has responsibility for the feet, the plate has responsibilty for the hands, if I'm reading your post right.

Just to be clear, that is a general guideline, not an absolute. There's nothing that prevents either umpire from calling any illegal pitch that he sees.

[GIMNEPIWO]

And if this had been NFHS ?