batting from both sides of plate

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by DG

I have revised my thinking on this. I wouldn't do anything except be amused. Fall ball, young kids, coach who wouldn't get the message, nothing to be gained here.

What "message"? That you don't know the rules? Or that you think it's OK to impose your view of what you think the rules should be?

In either case, the coach will not think highly of you - and you'd have earned the thought.

[Rcichon]

Originally Posted by jhelbling

Can a batter bat from both sides of the plate in the same at bat?

Issue came up in a fall league my son plays in? Umpire said it was not allowed - I do not know the rule so I am assuming he is correct. Just want to double check.

The Umpire doesn't know the rule either. Smitty.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by DG

I will add that I have never seen a batter change positions in the box during an at bat, so this is a rare case.

I had one Delta as F1 mounted, tossed.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by kraine27

In a NFHS game, I have actually had a hitter come to the plate batting left handed. He was attempting to bunt for a hit up the third base line and gain a head start from being on that side of the plate. After he obtained the second strike and as the catcher was throwing the ball back to the mound, the hitter switched to the right handed side of the plate. The only confusion was with the parents in the crowd.

I have witnessed a pitcher pitch with both arms. Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska had a pitcher that could pitch with both arms. He utilizes a five finger glove so it can work on either hand. According to the rules, he does have to decide which arm he is pitching with to each hitter before the at bat starts.

For the first time in my 30-year career, I saw this in a game myself. During the 2006 Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) season I was working the dish when a pitcher came to the mound and pitched right-handed. The next batter I noticed something odd about the pitcher. Sure enough, he was pitching left-handed.

An ambidextrous pitcher. Who would've thunk it?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by greymule

I can't remember ever having a batter switch boxes in a baseball game. But maybe I forgot one or two.

In ASA and NCAA softball, batters do it routinely.

Definitely more common in softball with slappers/bunters. But I've seen it a few times in baseball - once after a kid got hit in a shoulder while swinging - he switched to protect the sore shoulder. A few times if a pitcher was changed while he was batting.

Joaquin Andujar used to do it simply at random at times - never figured out the method to his madness.

[PeteBooth]

Since most fall leagues are pretty laid back, instructional, whatever you want to call it, if a batter was continuously swapping back and forth I would tell him to stop that nonsense and if his coach insisted there was no rule against it, ie condoning such nonsense,

As long as B1 is NOT delaying the game what do you care where he bats from.

Now if B1 his constantly delaying the game by requesting TIME so he can switch batter's boxes or taking his sweet time in doing so that is a "horse of a different color" but as long as B1 is not delaying the game I could care less.

Also, let's get real here. If b1 did do this how long before you see "chin music"

Pete Booth

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Just touching the rubber isn't enough. He has to be in position ready to pitch.

in position = windup or set. He isn't ready to pitch until then.

Thanks Rich. I interpreted that rule wrong.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

In either case, the coach will not think highly of you - and you'd have earned the thought.

There are a few coaches I don't think highly of, and a few I do think highly of. The rest I don't I think about at all.