\The pitcher and umpires apparently knew that both the pitcher and the batter are allowed by rule to switch sides once. The problem was, unlike FED, OBR does not specify who has to commit first. (Fed states the pitcher must commit first)
The umpires, given no guidance by rule, decided the batter would have to committ first. I'll bet an official ruling will come out very soon.
Posts: 183 | Location: Local Ball Field | Registered: April 20, 2008
They have to address it. It won't be long before Pat Venditte faces another switch hitter. It would be nice if the interpretation is consistent with FED & NCAA.
In the Cyclones game, the batter initially got in the box as a righty. After one switch each, it should have been lefty vs. lefty. That's not how they wound up. I don't know how many switches there were, but it must have been an even number.
Posts: 326 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: December 19, 2007
The Yankees site showed the video. Kind of funny, but a little annoying. Hasn't he faced switch hitters in college? CSTV had a feature on him, and I thought there was a rule that he can't switch in the middle of an at bat.
I think that the batter has to decide first, because the pitcher can't pitch until the batter is in the box. Then the pitcher can still take the sign (at least with no one on) without declaring which arm he will pitch with.
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is just a hole in Arizona. -George F. Will
Posts: 668 | Location: NY | Registered: August 04, 2005
