Switch-Hitter vs Switch-Pitcher

[Jurassic Referee]

This one came up in a minor league game last night between the Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones. Ninth inning-- with a switch-hitter up. Pitching is a player who throws from either side also, depending on the batter's location. The problem was that neither player would commit to a side for the first pitch. They both kept fandangoing back and forth. Apparently, and I sureashell don't know, the rules say that both the pitcher and hitter can switch one time after committing to a side. The problem seemed to be that the rules don't state who has to commit first- the pitcher or batter. Soooooo, both players kept switching as soon as the other one moved. The decision finally made by the umpires(before global warming put the ballpark underwater) was that the batter had to commit first.

Thoughts?

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06202008...ion_116313.htm

[JugglingReferee]

The batter committing first makes more sense to this non-baseball guy.

[dash_riprock]

FED and NCAA require the pitcher to face the batter as a righty or lefty, but not both, so the pitcher has to commit. Don't know about OBR.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

FED and NCAA require the pitcher to face the batter as a righty or lefty, but not both, so the pitcher has to commit. Don't know about OBR.

Can I ask what the rationale is for this method?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Can I ask what the rationale is for this method?

I imagine the rationale was "pick one."

[Rich Ives]

In OBR each can switch once.


In reality it will always be the pitcher who switches first because the batter will pick a side as he steps up. The pitcher will then switch. The batter will then switch.

[dash_riprock]

If the batter has to be in the box before the pitcher takes the rubber, then the batter will switch first.

[cshs81]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

In OBR each can switch once.


.

I was looking at the rulebook and can't find the above. Can you point me in the right direction?

[w_sohl]

he already has the advantage

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

he already has the advantage

The pitcher is throwing a $5 baseball, the batter is swinging a $350 bat. Who has the advantage?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by BigTex

The pitcher is throwing a $5 baseball, the batter is swinging a $350 bat. Who has the advantage?

The Ash and Maple logging company.................

Tim.

[MrUmpire]

The first 2 minutes of this occurred during a live ball.

At 2:11 of this full length version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkPbJV2dffI the pitcher steps off the rubber foward towards the plate. A few seconds later the PU finally calls time.

Remember, there was a runner at first.

Where's the balk call?

[TussAgee11]

Looks like catcher and pitcher were coming to talk... batter was outside of the box.

I don't have a balk there.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by BigTex

The pitcher is throwing a $5 baseball, the batter is swinging a $350 bat. Who has the advantage?

The pitcher, if the batter ever had an advantage he wouldn't fail 7 or 8 out of ten times. $$$ has nothing to do with it.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

The pitcher, if the batter ever had an advantage he wouldn't fail 7 or 8 out of ten times. $$$ has nothing to do with it.

It's really the defense's advantage more than the pitcher's: hitting a round ball with a round bat is really difficult.