Ambidextrous Pitcher Question

[cshs81]

I read a report of a pitcher for a college (Creighton maybe) who is ambidextrous. I had heard that he must choose which hand he is going to throw with either a)at the beginning of the inning or b)before the first pitch to a batter.

However, I can't find the rule that states that. I looked in OBR but do not have access to FED/NCAA.

Did I miss it in OBR?

[Don Mueller]

Originally Posted by cshs81

I read a report of a pitcher for a college (Creighton maybe) who is ambidextrous. I had heard that he must choose which hand he is going to throw with either a)at the beginning of the inning or b)before the first pitch to a batter.

However, I can't find the rule that states that. I looked in OBR but do not have access to FED/NCAA.

Did I miss it in OBR?

Sorry I don't have my book for rule reference, but Fed he has to declare for each batter.
I'm betting OBR and NCAA is the same.

[tibear]

Originally Posted by Don Mueller

Sorry I don't have my book for rule reference, but Fed he has to declare for each batter.
I'm betting OBR and NCAA is the same.

I would doubt that because the batter is free to switch from which side they want to bat from in between each pitch. I know the rules aren't meant to be fair but it would seem strange that the batter is free to choose which way they want to hit the ball for every pitch but the pitcher has to declare for each batter??? Doesn't make sense. (Which doesn't mean it isn't true!!)

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by tibear

I would doubt that because the batter is free to switch from which side they want to bat from in between each pitch. I know the rules aren't meant to be fair but it would seem strange that the batter is free to choose which way they want to hit the ball for every pitch but the pitcher has to declare for each batter??? Doesn't make sense. (Which doesn't mean it isn't true!!)

That's just why they have it. Otherwise the batter would switch, the pitcher would switch, the batter would switch, the pitcher would switch, .... and the game would be a stalemate.

OBR: Each can switch once. It's in NAPBL, if not elsewhere.

NCAA and FED: Pitcher must declare. No restrictions on the batter.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

That's just why they have it. Otherwise the batter would switch, the pitcher would switch, the batter would switch, the pitcher would switch, .... and the game would be a stalemate.

OBR: Each can switch once. It's in NAPBL, if not elsewhere.

NCAA and FED: Pitcher must declare. No restrictions on the batter.

For the first time in my career, I had this last year in a CICL game. I noticed the pitcher using a different hand when a lefty came up to bat following a righty. At first I thought I was imagining things--not an impossibility--then the next batter was a righty again and lo and behold, the pitcher goes back to the other hand to throw.

Originally Posted by UMP25

For the first time in my career, I had this last year in a CICL game. I noticed the pitcher using a different hand when a lefty came up to bat following a righty. At first I thought I was imagining things--not an impossibility--then the next batter was a righty again and lo and behold, the pitcher goes back to the other hand to throw.

Question for you - where did the keep their other glove when pitching - behind the mound or did they just put the same glove on the other hand? Just curious.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by UMP25

For the first time in my career, I had this last year in a CICL game. I noticed the pitcher using a different hand when a lefty came up to bat following a righty. At first I thought I was imagining things--not an impossibility--then the next batter was a righty again and lo and behold, the pitcher goes back to the other hand to throw.

That WAS the guy from Creighton. Pretty cool. And he threw the ball VERY well - watch for him to get signed in next year's amateur draft.

JJ

[justanotherblue]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

OBR: Each can switch once. It's in NAPBL, if not elsewhere.

NCAA and FED: Pitcher must declare. No restrictions on the batter.

The batter is free to switch sides pitch by pitch as long as he doesn't disconcert the pitcher. The one time switch is only with an ambidextrous pitcher. and yes, it's in PBUC.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by tibear

I would doubt that because the batter is free to switch from which side they want to bat from in between each pitch. I know the rules aren't meant to be fair but it would seem strange that the batter is free to choose which way they want to hit the ball for every pitch but the pitcher has to declare for each batter??? Doesn't make sense. (Which doesn't mean it isn't true!!)

The reason it makes sense is that if one or the other does not have to declare, then you have the batter getting in one of the boxes, the pitcher putting the ball in the glove and getting ready to pitch with the handedness that gives him an advantage over that handedness of a hitter... thus the hitter steps out and gets in the OTHER box ... then the pitcher switches back... ad infinitum. We'd never ever get a pitch in.

Basically, to avoid this stymie, the rulesmakers require the pitcher to declare, THEN the batter gets in the box that is most advantageous to him.

[tibear]

Not to doubt anyone here but where can I find this in OBR???

It talks about the batter not being able to leave the batter's box once the pitcher is in the set position or starts his windup but where is the rule about the pitcher?? Or is this another "omission" from the rulebook?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by tibear

Not to doubt anyone here but where can I find this in OBR???

It talks about the batter not being able to leave the batter's box once the pitcher is in the set position or starts his windup but where is the rule about the pitcher?? Or is this another "omission" from the rulebook?

It's in the PBUC Manual.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by tibear

I would doubt that because the batter is free to switch from which side they want to bat from in between each pitch. I know the rules aren't meant to be fair but it would seem strange that the batter is free to choose which way they want to hit the ball for every pitch but the pitcher has to declare for each batter??? Doesn't make sense. (Which doesn't mean it isn't true!!)

Sure it makes sense. You have to give the nod to either the pitcher or the batter on this matter. What if a switch-hitting batter faces an ambidextrous pitcher?

The pitcher is pitching left-handed so the batter decides to bat right-handed. So the pitcher switches to right-handed. Then the batter steps into the left-handed batter's box. Which causes the pitcher to switch ... and then the batter switches back.

When will this nonsense end?

The rulesmakers have decided to give the nod to the batter. He gets the final say. The only other choice was to give the nod to the pitcher. But somebody has to get the nod.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Originally Posted by cshs81

I read a report of a pitcher for a college (Creighton maybe) who is ambidextrous. I had heard that he must choose which hand he is going to throw with either a)at the beginning of the inning or b)before the first pitch to a batter.

However, I can't find the rule that states that. I looked in OBR but do not have access to FED/NCAA.

Did I miss it in OBR?

FED 6-1-1

ART. 1... The pitcher shall pitch while facing the batter from either a windup position (Art. 2) or a set position (Art 3). The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position. He shall take his sign from the catcher with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate. The pitching regulations begin when he intentionally contacts the pitcher's plate. Turning the shoulders to check runners while in contact with the pitcher's plate in the set position is legal. Turning the shoulders after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is a balk. He shall not make a quick-return pitch in an attempt to catch a batter off balance. The catcher shall have both feet in the catcher's box at the time of the pitch. If a pitcher is ambidextrous, the umpire shall require the pitcher to face a batter as either a left-handed pitcher or right-handed pitcher, but not both.