Ambidexterous Pitcher

[MikeStrybel]

Watch this and see how not to handle it:

Switch Hitter VS Switch Pitcher - YouTube

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Watch this and see how not to handle it:

Switch Hitter VS Switch Pitcher - YouTube

There was no rule then. It's the incident that caused the preliminalry instructions and then the folow-up rule to be written

[MikeStrybel]

I was well aware of that. It was still not handled well. I have used this video in clinics to illustrate how to handle things not defined in the book. Make the call.

PBUC issued its new guidelines on July 3, 2008. It reads:

The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to with which arm he will throw. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.

The pitcher is not permitted to pitch with the other hand until the batter is retired, the batter becomes a runner, the inning ends, the batter is substituted for by a pinch-hitter or the pitcher incurs an injury.

Any switch (by either the pitcher or the batter) must be clearly indicated to the umpire.

There will be no warm-up pitches during the change of arms.

If an injury occurs the pitcher may change arms but not use that arm again during the remainder of the game.

I may be in the minority but I would have liked to see that batter have to commit to a side rather than the pitcher. They defensive team responds to the actions of the offense, after all.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I may be in the minority but I would have liked to see that batter have to commit to a side rather than the pitcher. They defensive team responds to the actions of the offense, after all.

The problem is that the batter has always been able to switch which side they hit from. While pitchers have too, it's only been recently that ambidextrous has even been an issue.

[dash_riprock]

Without the new rule I would have required the batter to pick a box for each pitch.

[Mrumpiresir]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Without the new rule I would have required the batter to pick a box for each pitch.

I gotta disagree. Make the pitcher declare. After all, even against a good batter, the pitcher wins about 70% of the time. But I would like to hear your reasoning on your opinion.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Mrumpiresir

I gotta disagree. Make the pitcher declare. After all, even against a good batter, the pitcher wins about 70% of the time. But I would like to hear your reasoning on your opinion.

6.02 (a) The batter shall take his position in the batter’s box promptly when it is his time at bat.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Without the new rule I would have required the batter to pick a box for each pitch.

I agree. Tell him to get in the box and if he refuses, it is his actions that help guide the outcome.

There are plenty of things that happen on baseball fields that aren't defined by the rules. Sometimes you just have to umpire.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by yawetag

The problem is that the batter has always been able to switch which side they hit from. While pitchers have too, it's only been recently that ambidextrous has even been an issue.

That is why I prefer the batter to commit. I don't concern myself with batting statistics. A batter is considered offensive personnel and by definition, the defense responds to his actions. It's a shame that Venditte didn't make it further. Somewhere, Bill Veeck is spinning at the missed opportunity.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

A batter is considered offensive personnel and by definition, the defense responds to his actions.

It's the other way around in baseball - the only team sport where the defense controls the ball.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

It's the other way around in baseball - the only team sport where the defense controls the ball.

Only when my Cubbies are playing.

[justanotherblue]

Being this was a MiLB game, per PBUC 6.15

"In the rare occassion of an ambidextrous pitcher, the pitcher and the batter may each change position one time per at bat".

This rule was in affect at the time of this play. It's a rare as hell event, obviously not a section we read often. Obviously PU either didn't know it or remember it.

This is directly out of the 04 edition p76 of the PBUC Umpire manual 04 edition.

[DG]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

That is why I prefer the batter to commit. I don't concern myself with batting statistics. A batter is considered offensive personnel and by definition, the defense responds to his actions. It's a shame that Venditte didn't make it further.

Many times, a pinch hitter is on deck and pitcher is changed, resulting in change in pinch hitter. Defense has always been the one required to commit.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by DG

Many times, a pinch hitter is on deck and pitcher is changed, resulting in change in pinch hitter. Defense has always been the one required to commit.

An on deck pinch hitter is not a pinch hitter yet.

[eyezen]

Originally Posted by DG

Many times, a pinch hitter is on deck and pitcher is changed, resulting in change in pinch hitter. Defense has always been the one required to commit.

That would be a bad managerial mistake. You always wait until the batter is announced before making the pitching change.