Baserunning – Reading the Pitcher from the Windup Position

By: Mike Roberts

Originally Published in: Baserunning - By Human Kinetics

A baserunner has a lot to keep track of when the pitcher throws from the windup position. The runner must study how a pitcher approaches the rubber with his feet, what the pitcher does with his gloved hand and free hand, in which hand the baseball is located if the pitcher's hands are separated, where the pitcher's hands are when his foot hits the top of the rubber, and the pitcher's motion when he starts the windup.

Pitchers differ in how they set their feet on the rubber to take the signal. Years ago, most pitchers set up with the chest directly facing the plate and the pivot foot pointed at the catcher. This was considered the best body mechanics to begin the motion. Today, pitchers set up with the chest and pivot foot facing varying angles. Some pitchers start with their hands together and others with their hands apart. Pitchers with their hands apart may have the ball in the glove or the bare hand.

The pitcher is allowed to step off the rubber with the pivot foot any time before he starts his motion to home plate. The runner should watch the right foot of a right-handed pitcher and the left foot of a left-handed pitcher. If the pitcher steps off with the nonpivot foot, it is considered a balk. Runners should know this rule.

A pitcher may start his motion from the windup position in a number of ways. What constitutes the beginning of the windup? If the hands are together, any movement by the body is the beginning of the windup. A pitcher cannot stop his motion or step off the rubber once his body begins to move with the hands together or it is a balk. The runner anticipates when the pitcher's hands will move and makes sure his walking lead takes him beyond 24 feet (7.3 m) before the pitcher's hands or nonpivot leg begins to move. The runner should start to move a split second before the pitcher does.

If the pitcher's hands begin apart, he is allowed to bring them together. Then the pitcher's actual wind-up officially begins. Before the pitcher's hands come together to set, he can stop the motion or step off the rubber with the pivot foot. Few pitchers stop the arm motion as the hands are coming together because it is easier to just step off with the pivot foot.

Pitchers also show variety in their leg kicks. Some pitchers use a high leg kick, others use little leg kick at all, and the rest fall somewhere in the middle. When the pitcher is in the windup, he is supposed to continue with his normal leg kick. However, often umpires allow the pitcher to alter or shorten the leg kick without calling a balk. Shortening the leg kick helps the pitcher throw the ball to the catcher sooner and gives the defense a better chance to get a runner attempting to steal out. With an altered leg kick allowed, the runner must calculate the additional footage he needs to be successful if the pitcher is going to cut down his leg kick to throw home. This altered leg kick is used for the same reason a pitcher uses a slide step to throw home from the windup with a runner on first base.