jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (02/19/85)
> Ok, here is a question concerning substitutions. I think it is legal, but > I'd like to know for sure. Scenario: 2 outs, pitcher (batting ninth) coming > up to bat. Manager pinch-hits for pitcher, pinch-hitter makes 3rd out. Then > manager makes a defensive substitution for the #1 batter, but puts > the new fielder in the 9th slot, and the new pitcher in the 1st slot. Next > inning, the #1 batter is to bat (new pitcher), but manager pinch-hits for him. > So, the manager gets a pinch-hitter in 2 consecutive innings. ... > On second thought, > this sort of lineup change may only be permissible when the 1st pinch-hitter > stays in the game as the defensive substitute for the #1 hitter; he is then > constrained to bat in the #9 slot, and then the new pitcher has to take what > is freed by the substitution (#1 slot). I don't have a rule book, but I'm pretty sure that it's legal. The rule is that once a player is in the lineup, his position in the batting order cannot be changed, but in the National League, his fielding position, even if it's pitcher, can be changed as many times as the manager wants. (I think the AL has some restrictions against changing the DH, but since we're talking about the pitcher being in the batting order, I'll only discuss the NL situation.) Also, it is legal to substitute two or more players at the same time. So, if two players are substituted at the same time, they have to assume the batting order positions of the people they are replacing, but they don't have to assume their fielding positions. In other words, the pitcher's replacement in the order can play the field, and the fielder's replacement can pitch. Therefore, the above scenario is perfectly legal, even if neither pinch-hitter remains in the game. Since there are no restrictions on any fielding position changes, this is legally the same as the common move that I think is called the "two for one switch": Substituting two players at once to make the new pitcher's first turn at bat come up as late as possible. One thing that I'm not sure of though is this: When a new pitcher (or any other player) is brought in during the team's defensive part of the inning, does he have to be given a spot in the batting order immediately? It makes a difference if the manager wants to make the new pitcher's turn at bat come up as late as possible, because if the answer is yes, the new pitcher will have to assume the old pitcher's spot in the batting order unless another substitution is made on the same pitch. If the answer is no, the team can make another substitution anytime during or at the end of their defensive half of that inning, and then give the new pitcher the spot in the batting order that one of the other players taken out of the game had. -- Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073 {linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsrgv!dciem!jeff {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeff
kaufman@uiucdcs.UUCP (02/22/85)
If a new pitcher is brought in, he must take a spot in the batting order (we're talking NL here) immediately. It will be the old pitcher's spot unless another fielder is brought in at the same time. Additionally, the plate umpire and the opposing bench must be explicitly informed about this "double switch". Ken Kaufman (uiucdcs!kaufman)