Switch hitter versus switch pitcher

[1908]

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=073860f8-cdc3-4778-92cb-ad2d20ac545d

 

This is pretty funny.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The video clip is hilarious, but it appears the umpires didn't make the right ruling. By my understanding, the pitcher has to declare first which arm he's going to pitch with.

[1908]

Doesn't he declare which arm he's going to pitch with by pitching a ball?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Doesn't he declare which arm he's going to pitch with by pitching a ball?

 

That's a good question, but my understanding is that the pitcher has to choose first, and then the batter chooses. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.

 

Either way, this pitcher if he could be effective from both sides would be Bobby Cox's wet dream.

[1908]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

 

That, or just something they haven't dealt with enough to be sure about.

[1908]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2969030&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

"We're entering uncharted territory at this time, and right now it's simply our goal to be as fair as possible," said Justin Klemm, the executive director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC). "There is no reference to this type of situation in the MLB rulebook, but in the PBUC manual there is a rule which states that, 'In the rare occasion of an ambidextrous pitcher, pitcher and batter may change positions one time per at-bat.'"

 

While this is a step in the right direction, Klemm admits that there is still much to be sorted out. After all, it doesn't really matter how many times the pitcher and batter are allowed to change positions. What matters is who gets to make the final decision.

 

"The batter has generally been seen as the person who sets the precedent for the ball to be put in motion," remarked Klemm. "So, it's a possibility that the batter will have to commit first. What we're doing now is working through different scenarios in order to establish rules that are fair and won't make a travesty of the game."

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2969030&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

"We're entering uncharted territory at this time, and right now it's simply our goal to be as fair as possible," said Justin Klemm, the executive director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC). "There is no reference to this type of situation in the MLB rulebook, but in the PBUC manual there is a rule which states that, 'In the rare occasion of an ambidextrous pitcher, pitcher and batter may change positions one time per at-bat.'"

 

While this is a step in the right direction, Klemm admits that there is still much to be sorted out. After all, it doesn't really matter how many times the pitcher and batter are allowed to change positions. What matters is who gets to make the final decision.

 

"The batter has generally been seen as the person who sets the precedent for the ball to be put in motion," remarked Klemm. "So, it's a possibility that the batter will have to commit first. What we're doing now is working through different scenarios in order to establish rules that are fair and won't make a travesty of the game."

 

 

god find, so it appears there really isn't a rule in place...or at least not a clearly defined one.

[OleMissCub]

There are Short Season Class A baseball games that are televised? To me, that's the most shocking thing to come out of this.

[chuckywang]

There was a switch pitcher from Creighton that this happened to. The umps during that game ruled the pitcher had to choose his hand first.

[Mute]

There was a switch pitcher from Creighton that this happened to. The umps during that game ruled the pitcher had to choose his hand first.

 

same guy, i believe.

[Post Count Padder]

This just blew my mind.

[FergieJ31]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

 

I'm surprised there aren't well-defined rules - there have been a few ambidextrous pitchers in pro ball, even at the MLB level. Greg Harris in 1995 for the Expos and this guy:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mullane

 

567 innings in 1884, even load balancing between two arms, is pretty amazing.

[FergieJ31]

Interesting discussion on this at BBTF. Before reading this I agreed with vance, I thought the pitcher would have to commit first. A few well-argued posts from one 'willcarrollsux' have changed my mind.

 

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/switch_pitcher_versus_switch_hitter_video/

[Illini Iceman]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

 

I'm surprised there aren't well-defined rules - there have been a few ambidextrous pitchers in pro ball, even at the MLB level. Greg Harris in 1995 for the Expos and this guy:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mullane

 

567 innings in 1884, even load balancing between two arms, is pretty amazing.

 

The Reds should trade for this minor league guy and see if Dusty could manage to blow out both of his arms.

[Warpticon]

Imagine if this guy was a starter. It would be awesome to have your #1 and #2 starter be the same guy.

[BleacherBadger]

If I were the pitcher, I would keep the glove on the ground and hold the ball with both hands. Then I would start my windup one way or the other, changing arms in some random order. Talk about throwing the batter and playing mindgames.

[BleacherBadger]

I also just realized that's my friend playing center field. Proud product of the western suburbs.

[CubbieBum]

If I were the pitcher, I would keep the glove on the ground and hold the ball with both hands. Then I would start my windup one way or the other, changing arms in some random order. Talk about throwing the batter and playing mindgames.

 

Except for as soon as you start your leg kick it would be obvious which you would be using. And if I'm not mistaken there is a rule that says you must wear a glove because some pitchers way back in the day used to say it put them off balance and tried not to use one.

[gflore34]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

 

I'm surprised there aren't well-defined rules - there have been a few ambidextrous pitchers in pro ball, even at the MLB level. Greg Harris in 1995 for the Expos and this guy:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mullane

 

567 innings in 1884, even load balancing between two arms, is pretty amazing.

 

284 wins? Why isn't this fellow in the HOF? There are certainly many other pitchers less deserving who are members.

[BleacherBadger]

If I were the pitcher, I would keep the glove on the ground and hold the ball with both hands. Then I would start my windup one way or the other, changing arms in some random order. Talk about throwing the batter and playing mindgames.

 

Except for as soon as you start your leg kick it would be obvious which you would be using. And if I'm not mistaken there is a rule that says you must wear a glove because some pitchers way back in the day used to say it put them off balance and tried not to use one.

 

Really? Reallllly? I guess I also shouldn't tell you my plan for hitters not to use a bat and just to lay on the ground because it would terrible shrink the strike zone. Get a sense of humor.

[CubsNSkers07]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2969030&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

"We're entering uncharted territory at this time, and right now it's simply our goal to be as fair as possible," said Justin Klemm, the executive director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC). "There is no reference to this type of situation in the MLB rulebook, but in the PBUC manual there is a rule which states that, 'In the rare occasion of an ambidextrous pitcher, pitcher and batter may change positions one time per at-bat.'"

 

While this is a step in the right direction, Klemm admits that there is still much to be sorted out. After all, it doesn't really matter how many times the pitcher and batter are allowed to change positions. What matters is who gets to make the final decision.

 

"The batter has generally been seen as the person who sets the precedent for the ball to be put in motion," remarked Klemm. "So, it's a possibility that the batter will have to commit first. What we're doing now is working through different scenarios in order to establish rules that are fair and won't make a travesty of the game."

 

 

god find, so it appears there really isn't a rule in place...or at least not a clearly defined one.

 

The rule your thinking of Vance could very well be the College rule.

 

Venditte is from Creighton and I am a Nebraska Cornhusker baseball fan. It occured last year. We had a switch hitter up and Venditted got on the mound to pitch right handed. So Nebraska's batter got into the left hand batters box. Venditte attempted to switch to his left hand to pitch and the Umpire said NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. And he was forced to pitched right handed.

 

The funny thing was a day before the game Creighton's head coach said he knew the rule in place and that it could come into play and Venditte would just have to deal with it. Well when the umpire wouldn't let Venditte switch creighton head coach Ed Servais decided to go argue.... thought it was funny that he knew the rule yet he felt he needed to argue anyways probably because he hates losing to Nebraska so much.

[sneakypower]

Well, judging by the umpires' reaction, I suspect any rules out there to deal with this are murky at best. I love it.

 

I'm surprised there aren't well-defined rules - there have been a few ambidextrous pitchers in pro ball, even at the MLB level. Greg Harris in 1995 for the Expos and this guy:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mullane

 

567 innings in 1884, even load balancing between two arms, is pretty amazing.

the record is 680, by Will White