I agree that Lincecum in his heyday was out in front but not as blatant as this "quasi crow-hop/leap". Since we're batting around girls softball terms, isn't it appropriate that the answer comes from the softball standard for illegal pitches (as shown below)?
I'm not sure the Lincecum comparison is valid, all power pitcher push off the rubber somewhat and anyway lately Lincecum's problem has been not slipping and falling off the rubber, so there you go.
from thecompletepitcher.com
http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/images/clip_image020_0001.jpg
" It's all right, It's OK. You're going to get hit by a come-backer some day. " Then it will be a safety issue instead.
Capps confused them by being a bit of a hybrid between the two illegal pitches. It's that initial hop / leap? forward that probably shouldn't be allowed. Umpires should have employed the Supreme Court definition of pornography standard "Can't define it, but you know it when you see it" rather than the girls softball standard "It's OK as long as you drag the toe". We can all learn from each other. They are just so precious at this age. Capps isn't really dragging his toe until the first landing after the first leap, but WDIK?
from Mercurynews.com
Extra Baggs: Giants survive a rough June, McGehee's exit interview, a questionable delivery, etc. - Giants Extra:
Marlins right-hander Carter Capps has as unorthodox delivery as you’ll see in the major leagues. It’s plenty deceptive, too. But is it legal?
Bochy said he and the coaches looked into it and there was nothing to challenge. Capps isn’t the only pitcher who leaps off the rubber and grounds his back foot before releasing the ball. Jordan Walden does something similar.
A Triple-A umpire called two automatic balls on Capps in April, and after that, the Marlins sought clarification from Major League Baseball. Officials told Capps that he couldn’t leap so high and had to try to drag his toe a little more. I guess he’s complying now, since he is pitching without any interference.
If you look back at early Tim Lincecum starts, his back foot often was way in front of the rubber when he released the ball. It was less noticeable because he was dragging a toe.
So apparently, the neighborhood play works when it comes to pitching, too. Not that hitters will agree that it’s fair.
“I mean, he’s throwing a foot and a half closer than most people,” said Buster Posey, who joined Matt Duffy and Brandon Belt in striking out against Capps. “It’s a timing thing. You’re used to (seeing pitchers) push off and release the ball, and there’s a hesitation in between for him. From what everybody was saying, they ruled it legal. So you’ve got to go up and do your best against it.”
'via Blog this'
http://www.pitchsoftball.com/page3.html
In their rulebooks, the USSSA, ASA, etc. offer essentially the same definitions for "crow hopping":
ASA - "A crow hop is defined as the act of a pitcher who steps, hops, or drags off the
Front of the pitcher's plate, replants the pivot foot, establishing a second impetus
(or starting point), pushes off from the newly-established starting point and
and completes the delivery."
And the ASA rulebook also states:
"Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher's plate is illegal."
USSSA - "A crow hop is the replanting of the pivot foot prior to delivery of the pitch."
Additionally, under USSSA Pitching Rules:
"Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher's plate is illegal.
NOTE 1: It is not a step if the pitcher slides (her) foot in any direction on the pitcher's plate,
provided contact is maintained.
NOTE 2: Techniques such as the "crow hop" and "the leap" are illegal."
