Who goes first?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Oops, sorry... Brain fart. Wasn't thinking before typing.

Would a glove with the extra thumb even be legal? That's what I meant to ask.

I would say not.

I wouldn't think so as long at the glove met all the specs. However, I'm not even talking about a special glove. I'm talking about any old ball glove.

This used to be something everyone had to do when playing one of our three daily games of baseball as a kid because no everyone had their own glove and not everyone threw with the same arm.

[MD Longhorn]

Softball doesn't have a rule for this - as they have specific timing requirement for both batter and pitcher - and like most here, I would call time once for the batter, but once it was clear what was going on, I'd make her get in the box and let the pitcher pitch.

However, in baseball this is specifically addressed - and it HAS happened (there have been 2 minor league switch pitchers in the past). The PITCHER must declare which hand they are pitching with, at which point the batter gets in their box.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

However, in baseball this is specifically addressed - and it HAS happened (there have been 2 minor league switch pitchers in the past). The PITCHER must declare which hand they are pitching with, at which point the batter gets in their box.

And why does the batter get the advantage? Because they are not as good as they claim to be. IMO, if your ability to hit relies upon the hand with which the ball is released, you are not good enough to be a pro ballplayer.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And why does the batter get the advantage? Because they are not as good as they claim to be. IMO, if your ability to hit relies upon the hand with which the ball is released, you are not good enough to be a pro ballplayer.

Probably because in baseball, a batter who fails only 70% of the time is still considered a "great hitter." The balance is already tipped heavily in the defense's favor, so why not tip it back a notch?

[Andy]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Probably because in baseball, a batter who fails only 70% of the time is still considered a "great hitter." The balance is already tipped heavily in the defense's favor, so why not tip it back a notch?

This is pretty much what I would base my ruling on.

I would think that this would be a much bigger issue in baseball than in FP softball.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Probably because in baseball, a batter who fails only 70% of the time is still considered a "great hitter." The balance is already tipped heavily in the defense's favor, so why not tip it back a notch?

Fine, then drop the mound 4 inches, but a true professional baseball hitter can hit the ball no matter where it is froming from.

[SRW]

ASA 7.3.E. I got out #42.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Fine, then drop the mound 4 inches, but a true professional baseball hitter can hit the ball no matter where it is froming from.

Even the very best "true professional baseball hitter" has a significantly lower chance hitting off a same-handed pitcher. For some hitters the difference approaches 1/3 - for some pitchers 1/2! The difference in just the pitch itself is vastly different between the two games.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Even the very best "true professional baseball hitter" has a significantly lower chance hitting off a same-handed pitcher. For some hitters the difference approaches 1/3 - for some pitchers 1/2! The difference in just the pitch itself is vastly different between the two games.

JMO, rubbish

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

JMO, rubbish

Which part? The statistics bear out both things I said.