<P> A pitcher is in the set when, with the ball, he stands on, or directly in front of--and touching--the pitching rubber, with his toes pointing toward the side (toward third base for a right - handed pitcher) and his arms apart at his sides . This initial part of the set is called the stretch, because the pitcher usually stretches toward home plate to take signs from the catcher . At this point, the pitcher may make any number of preparatory movements necessary for delivering the pitch . Delivery begins when the pitcher brings his arms together in front of his body (a movement punctuated with a discernible pause). This is called coming set . After coming set, the pitcher takes a step toward home and delivers the pitch . Typically, pitchers from the set use a high leg kick, thus lunging toward home in pitching; a pitcher may instead release the ball more quickly by using the slide step, quickly stepping directly and immediately toward home and pitching . In the set position, the time of pitch is that instant when the pitcher makes a move toward home plate after coming set . </P> <P> As with the windup, prior to the time of pitch, the pitcher may step toward and throw or feign a throw to a base, subject to the balk rules, or disengage the rubber by stepping back (toward second base) with his pivot foot . </P> <P> Data analysis indicates that pitch velocity is equivalent whether thrown from the windup or the set position . </P> <P> Additionally, common wisdom is that the set is less damaging to the connective tissue of a pitcher's arm, but research in this area has been unable to support this hypothesis . </P>

When does a pitcher pitch from the stretch