Silly (?) Question
 

OK, I need you all to settle a bet I have with my boyfriend. :rolleyes: I say that a batter can switch from left to right or visa-versa at any time during an at-bat. He says you can't. We really need to know what the rule is for Major league baseball, since we were watching the Mariners when this discussion came up. Anyone know the rule? :confused:

If I'm wrong, I'll chalk it up to being a girl and being blonde. If he's wrong, he's toast! :D

You win
 

As long as the batter doesn't do it while the pitcher is in position and ready to pitch. Official Baseball Rules 6.06 (b)

The batter can switch as long as the pitcher is not ready to pitch, in other words, if he does not delay, he can switch back and forth all he wants.

You win the bet!:) :) :)

A-ha!
 

Just as I thought...he's SO TOAST!!!:D

Kris3333,

Just out of curiosity, what were the "terms" of the wager? http://eteamz.active.com/z/boards/devlish.gif

JM

She didn't really ask if anyone on an umpire's site knew a baseball rule, did she? ;)

Maybe PWL is her boyfriend? I sure hope not.

Wager
 

I cannot divulge the wager on here - but it will benefit both of us. :D

Kris,

I assure you, my interest was purely prurient. Sounds like it was a "win -win" proposition. ;)

JM

Proposition
 

Of course it was a "win-win" proposition, BUT, I still get bragging rights.

sexual innuendos on an official's forum. Never thought I would see that!!;)

Just by reading her posts one can tell she has better taste than that.

BRD 240-344:PBUC Manual: A pitcher and a batter may change "handedness" once during an at-bat: Example: The count is 1-1, and F1 changes from right to left. The batter may change from left to right, but both must remain that way for the remainder of the at-bat unless there is a pinch hitter, when each may change once.

Awwww...thanks Garth! What a great compliment! Although I don't even know who that is, so don't want to trash him just yet!:cool:

That's ok Kris, feel free!! We do all the time.

That only applies when there's an abidextrous pitcher and a switch hitter.

Yeah, I only have that situation two or three times a week.

Actually, he's right: it is false that you can change at ANY time during an at bat. You can't change while the pitcher is ready to pitch.

According to the letter of the rule, he's right; according to the spirit, you're right.

And you gentlemen of this board are irredeemable flirts.

Gentlemen?

Not really. Technically, you're wrong. As it was explained, once the pitcher is ready to pitch, the batter may not switch batter's boxes.

Bob

It matters not who wins the bet, as it will be a win-win situation regardless.:)

It sounds like one of those trick questions on the NFHS exams anyway.

Guys - I seems pretty clear Kris is NOT a "switch-hitter".

I'll bet she's not a pitcher either!:eek:


Tim.

One can certainly ascertain from the original post that this was not the boyfriend's position. These are not two umpires arguing, or even two coaches. The basic argument was whether or not a batter could switch boxes during his at bat, not when the pitcher had come set.

Based on the original post, Kris wins.

Based on the wager, the boyfriend wins.

For those of us with active imaginations, we all win.

OUCH Tim!!! Next thing you know you're balking a baseball player and balling a fastpitch player.

As Garth intoned yesterday. I have never "balled" a baseball pitcher. Now, softball.......................



Tim.

Come on guys, give her b/f a break... it was a "hard" question.

I'm guessing the boyfriend thought it had something to do with 2 strikes on the batter :)

Thank you
 

Just wanted to thank you all for your uhmm...interesting replies!

Kris,

Have you "collected" on your bet yet? If so, was it properly paid? :rolleyes:

JM

Coach...how can you talk like that to a lady? I had thought so much more of you. I can't believe how crass you are. Oh, wait a minute....."paid"....you wrote "paid" I thought you wrote lai......never mind.

Garth,

Neither my wife nor my girlfriend (Oops!) will "bet" with me on baseball rules questions any more. Unlike Kris's boyfriend, I wasn't smart enough to let them "win" every now & then. ;) Live & learn.

JM

I've remained married to my first and only wife for thirty-two years by recognizing who the smart one really is.

Garth,

Actually, my wife and my girlfriend are the same person. We're just coming up on 20. I'm still not sure who's smarter - I just try to do what I'm told. She also knows quite a bit about the rules of baseball; the price of being married to me I guess.

She also tells me I shouldn't post after midnight - because sometimes I'm kind of "mean" when I do. She's right, of course, yet still I do.

JM