Rules about throwing from both sides?

Buddogger · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 19, 2004, 03:40pm

Are there any rules restricting throwing pitches both lefty and righty to the same batter?

I know you have to present the ball to the batter prior to a pitch so it's not like you can put both hands behind your back and leave em guessing.

But if I want to throw one pitch lefty and then another righty in the same AB does the other team have a legitimate complaint?

I am talking slow pitch here.

scottk_61 · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 19, 2004, 03:47pm

no restrictions in place so let the opposing team whine.
However, in slow-pitch I would think that this is a decidedly stupid move by a pitcher who wants to keep his teeth.

Elaine "Lady Blue" · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 19, 2004, 03:48pm

Nothing in ASA rules does it say to 'present the ball' and has not for years. I don't know of any rule that says you cannot switch hands when pitching.
Your pitcher is goofy!

mcrowder · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 20, 2004, 01:21pm

I believe baseball has such a rule, to prevent the switch-pitcher from having the advantage over a switch-hitter. Pitcher has to declare which way he's pitching before hitter enters the box. It happened a few years ago in the minors, but I don't believe that guy ever surfaced in the majors.

Buddogger · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 20, 2004, 04:00pm

Hey Elaine ... I'm the pitcher :-)

Love, Goofy

Big Daddy Baker · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 20, 2004, 06:30pm

Doesn't the only rule apply state that the pictching hand has to stop rpior to the start of the pitch?

Bluefoot · #7 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 21, 2004, 09:21am

Quote:

Originally posted by mcrowder
I believe baseball has such a rule, to prevent the switch-pitcher from having the advantage over a switch-hitter. Pitcher has to declare which way he's pitching before hitter enters the box. It happened a few years ago in the minors, but I don't believe that guy ever surfaced in the majors.

About 10-15 years ago, there was a Major League Baseball pitcher, I think he was named Greg Harris, who was ambidextrous. Rawlings even made a special R/L glove for him, so he could switch hands, as MLB rules would not let him switch gloves. He did have to declare before each batter which hand he would pitch with. This was not a very long-lived experiment, even though he did pitch for a few years/teams.