question(s) about quick-pitching in major league baseball

[Cobain's Ghost]

i got to thinking about this after seeing tulo getting tossed for barking at an umpire about getting quick-pitched by latroy hawkins a week or so ago.

is quick-pitching illegal? is it even defined in the mlb rulebook? is it enforced? is it considered a breach of baseball etiquette? what is the penalty for quick-pitching?

[OaklandA's]

Yes, it's in the Rule Book: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info.../pitcher_8.jsp

See 8.05(e), for example. "A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted."

[chancellor]

Oakland A's is correct on the rule, but remember what a hitter defines as a "quick pitch" and what is really a quick pitch are often two distinctly different things.

[Moonlight J]

Joel Peralta does one from time to time -- surprised he hasn't been rung up on it yet.