Tigers' Ausmus: Cueto's windup is illegal
Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has a problem with Johnny Cueto's delivery to home plate.
Ausmus' club was victimized by Cueto's complete-game shutout Monday night, and the skipper complained to home-plate umpire Joe West about the Kansas City Royals righty altering his windup throughout the contest.
Related: Cueto dominates Tigers with complete-game shutout
"Really, the way the rule reads, you're not supposed to even alter your motion," Ausmus said after the Tigers' 4-0 loss. "That's the way the rule reads. They don't enforce it. Well, (Joe West) said if he stops it's an illegal pitch."
Cueto often elevates his left leg into a high tuck, and turns his back to the batter before uncoiling and delivering to the plate, as seen in the following montage from his outing Monday.
Section 8.01 (a) of the official MLB rules reads as follows:
The Windup Position: The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contract with the pitchers plate and the other foot free. From his position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot.
Cueto's unorthodox delivery has been criticized since he altered it in 2010 in an attempt to deceive hitters and disrupt their timing. He's not the first to attempt such a windup. Gene Garber, Fernando Valenzuela, and Hideo Nomo are just a few hurlers who have used similar deliveries.
(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)