Baseball switch question - does this EVER happen? - Page 2

andyfox · #11 10-26-2005, 01:50 AM

I remember reading about a minor league pitcher who could pitch with either hand, and would switch, while pitching in the minor leagues, to pitch left-handed to lefties and right-handed to righties. I thought it was Paul Richards, who became a reserve catcher in the majors (as well as a manger and general managers) but I might be wrong about that.

J.R. · #12 10-26-2005, 02:02 AM

Rule 3.05
(a) The pitcher named in the batting order handed the umpire in chief, as provided in Rules 4.01 (a) and 4.01 (b), shall pitch to the first batter or any substitute batter until such batter is put out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the judgment of the umpire in chief, incapacitates him from pitching.

(b) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire in chief's judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher.

(c) If an improper substitution is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled. If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner is put out. If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation of Rule 3.05 (c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire in chief has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher, he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch he becomes the proper pitcher.

Ulysses · #13 10-26-2005, 02:08 AM

[ QUOTE ]
unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which...

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AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH, MY HAMSTRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

antidan444 · #14 10-26-2005, 02:53 AM

I believe the rule about a pitcher who can pitch with either hand is, he is considered two pitchers in essense, and that switching from one arm to the other is considered a pitching change, and thus the pitcher cannot switch back to his original arm again.

Benholio · #15 10-26-2005, 03:32 AM

In 1995, a pitcher for the Expos pitched righty-lefty-lefty-righty to a series of four batters. The rules just seem to be that you must indicate which hand you are going to use for each batter, and you can't switch until the next batter.

Article @ mlb.com

andyfox · #16 10-26-2005, 11:54 AM

Thanks. It was indeed Paul Richards who pitched ambidextrously. Interesting that he became a catcher in the majors.

antidan444 · #17 10-26-2005, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the link and I apologize for my mistake.

jedi · #18 10-26-2005, 05:08 PM

"Homer, you're going in to pinch-hit."

"Me?"

"Yes, you see, the pitcher is left handed, and so is Darryl. You are right handed, and right handed hitters do better against left handed pitching. It's called playing the percentages. It's what smart managers do to win ball games."

"But coach, I've hit 9 home runs."

TheHip41 · #19 10-27-2005, 04:57 AM

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A pitcher has to pitch to a batter, so it can't go pitcher-batter-pitcher switch.

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He only has to throw 1 pitch. after that, he can be taken out. Unless he gets hurt warming up.

Benholio · #20 10-27-2005, 05:03 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A pitcher has to pitch to a batter, so it can't go pitcher-batter-pitcher switch.

[/ QUOTE ]

He only has to throw 1 pitch. after that, he can be taken out. Unless he gets hurt warming up.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, the pitcher has to continue throwing to the batter until he gets him out or the batter reaches base, unless the pitcher is injured.

MLB Rule 3.05

3.05
(a) The pitcher named in the batting order handed the umpire in chief, as provided in Rules 4.01 (a) and 4.01 (b), shall pitch to the first batter or any substitute batter until such batter is put out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the judgment of the umpire in chief, incapacitates him from pitching. (b) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire in chief's judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher. (c) If an improper substitution is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled. If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner is put out. If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation of Rule 3.05 (c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire in chief has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher, he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch he becomes the proper pitcher.