MLB is implementing a set of new rules starting in 2023.
One of them is the controversial pitch clock.
It features several time restrictions for both pitchers and hitters to start their respective motions and, in the case of the latter, be alert to the pitch.
Quick pitches are also banned, and this happens to be one of New York Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes’ go-to offerings.
The rule says that the pitcher may not deliver a pitch before the batter is reasonably set in the box.
Quick pitches add a ball to the count with the bases empty and are punished with a balk if there are runners on base.
They are illegal pitches.
Cortes was flagged with one of them in his Tuesday start.
After that, he took all the time in the world to make his new pitch.
It was an hilarious case of “Ok, I’ll show you slow now.”
Nestor Cortes getting called for a quick pitch…
And then the next pitch was like:
Suck it–here's an Extra-Long Pitch. 😂 pic.twitter.com/D6ngTLSS6n
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 28, 2023
The best thing of all is that the second pitch of the video does not violate the pitch clock rules.
Cortes is seeing tapping the mound with his left leg and then swinging his right leg after starting his windup.
That’s perfectly legal because his delivery started with the mound-tapping and he didn’t stop it at any time.
We are already picturing dozens of misunderstandings and controversies involving Cortes and the pitch clock.
He is one of the most unique pitchers in the league.
Most of his deliveries are actually legal.
The quick pitch, however, is not.
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