MLB Pitching Rules

Pitching represents the core of the game of baseball. All of the fielding plays, base-running and tag-outs essentially serve as a strategic embellishment of one single act: the pitcher trying to throw the ball past the batter without him hitting it. In Major League Baseball, the pitching rules thus rank among the most important in the game: dictating how the pitcher can throw the ball, what constitutes a strike and where a pitcher's actions constitute a breach of the rules.

Pitching Positions

The pitcher may take one of two positions during delivery of the ball: the wind-up position or the set position. From either position, he may throw a pitch, try to pick off a runner or disengage from the rubber of the pitching mound by stepping off of it with his pivot foot. If he does anything else--including going from a set to a wind-up position and vice versa--he may be charged with a balk, which allows any runners to advance one base.

The Pitch

A pitch itself can either be a strike, a ball or a wild pitch. A strike is defined as a ball the batter swings at and misses (or tips as a foul ball), a ball that passes through the strike zone (a zone over home plate and between the batter's numbers and his knees) or that comes into contact with the batter within the strike zone. A ball is a pitch that passes outside the strike zone and that is not swung at by the batter. A wild pitch is a ball that the catcher cannot handle: technically a ball, but allowing the runners to advance if they can do so before the catcher can come up with it and throw them out.

Illegal Pitches

Illegal pitches fall into a wide variety of different types and styles. They are generally defined as any pitch made with the help of substances that altered the surface of the ball ("shiners," "spit balls" and the like), quick pitches that are made before the batter is ready, pitches thrown when the pitcher is not directly facing the batter and any pitch made that is deemed to deliberately violate the safety of the batter, the umpire, the fans or any other players. The penalties for doing so range from an automatic advance of the runners to ejection and possible suspension from Major League Baseball.

Time Limits

In order to keep the game moving, a pitcher has a certain time limit in which he must throw the ball. Once he receives the ball, he has 12 seconds to deliver it to the plate. Otherwise, the umpire may cite him for a delay of game. An exception to this rule is when the bases are occupied; because the pitcher must keep an eye on them, he is allowed to take more time in preparing his wind-up. Some umpires are fairly lax in this rule, and apply it only when it is apparent that the pitcher is attempting to delay the game deliberately.

Visits to the Mound

A coach or manager may make a visit to the mound if he wishes to consult with the pitcher for any reason. However, he may only do so once per inning if he wants the pitcher to remain in the game. If a coach or manager visits the mound a second time in a single inning, then the pitcher must be removed and a reliever sent in in his place.