text: what does it mean when a pitcher is in the stretch? i hear the commentators talking about it all the time but i never figured out exactly what is and what it means.  how does it affect the pitcher/strategy? it is when a runner is on base. the pitcher has to "hold" the runner on, meaning keep him close to first so he doesn't steal second. if he was in the wind-up (his regular motion), the runner could get an enormous jump to steal second. in the stretch, he holds the runner better.   the stretch is basically pitching without the wind-up. the pitcher comes to a set (hands come down to a point and he pauses) before raising his leg and going home. compare that to a full wind-up and you'll notice a huge difference.