Baseball switch question - does this EVER happen?

[Ulysses]

OK, first off, how does the order go? Does the batter have to switch first or does the pitcher have to swtich first? Or either way?

Does it ever go change-change-change? Like, a new lefty come in, so a pinch-hitter replaces the batter, then a righty comes in.

Or, a pinch-hitter comes in, the pitcher switches, then a different pinch-hitter comes in.

Anyway, just wondering if is is allowed, and if so, if teams ever do two switches in a row where the first switched guy doesn't even play.

[Jack of Arcades]

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

[Sooga]

I was actually thinking about something slightly different last night... if there were such a thing as a switch-pitcher, up against a switch-hitter, what would happen? I think I heard somewhere that the hitter has to decide first, but I'm not sure what the official rule is.

[mikech]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, first off, how does the order go? Does the batter have to switch first or does the pitcher have to swtich first? Or either way?

[/ QUOTE ]
the batter has to be announced first. i've often seen a manager wait until the pinch-hitter is announced, and THEN go out and replace his pitcher.

[ QUOTE ]
Does it ever go change-change-change? Like, a new lefty come in, so a pinch-hitter replaces the batter, then a righty comes in.

[/ QUOTE ]
i think JoA is right on this one, the pitcher has to face a batter, so a sequence of reliever/pinch-hitter/new reliever can't happen.

[ QUOTE ]
Or, a pinch-hitter comes in, the pitcher switches, then a different pinch-hitter comes in.

[/ QUOTE ]
yes, i've seen this. this is why the pitcher's manager will wait for the new batter to be announced, so if the opposing manager still wants a favorable lefty-righty matchup, he'll have to burn a pinch-hitter.

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, just wondering if is is allowed, and if so, if teams ever do two switches in a row where the first switched guy doesn't even play.

[/ QUOTE ]
burning a pinch-hitter is allowed, and although it's rare, i've seen it happen.

[ QUOTE ]
I was actually thinking about something slightly different last night... if there were such a thing as a switch-pitcher, up against a switch-hitter, what would happen? I think I heard somewhere that the hitter has to decide first, but I'm not sure what the official rule is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of the course the batter has to decide first, the pitcher cant do anything until the batter is in the box.

[Ulysses]

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

[/ QUOTE ]

Does he have to pitch more than one pitch?

[Jack of Arcades]

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

[/ QUOTE ]

Does he have to pitch more than one pitch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. He has to pitch until the at-bat is completed.

[Sooga]

yea but what's to stop the hitter from switching over in that at bat? that's legal isn't it?

[WLVRYN]

You cant switch once you have two strikes.

[Ulysses]

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

[/ QUOTE ]

Does he have to pitch more than one pitch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. He has to pitch until the at-bat is completed.

[/ QUOTE ]

What if he gets injured throwing a pitch? Batter get a base?