Baseball Strategy:Double Switch
| <<Back to Baseball Strategy Table of Contents |
|---|
The double switch occurs when the manager removes both the pitcher and a position player, slotting the new pitcher into the removed position player's place in the batting order, and vice versa.
It is typically used when the pitcher's spot (typically the ninth slot) is due up in the next inning (or close), and the manager wishes to have the pitcher throw more than one inning.
| Example:
The home team is down 11-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, the light-hitting shortstop, Ray Donyez, batting in the 8-hole, comes to bat, and strikes out on four pitches. As the game is mostly a lost cause, the manager wishes to use his mop-up man, Rel Mojas, for the rest of the game. He cannot rely on the currently pitcher, Busty Daker, for he has gone well over his pitch count. It doubly makes sense to bring in the Mojas. But if the manager brings in Mojas, he will be the leadoff batter in the bottom of the eighth. Therefore, the manager removes Donyez as well, for utiltly guy Ewing McSuper. McSuper will bat in the 9th spot, and lead off in the next inning; Mojas will bat in the 8th slot, and probably not come up to bat again. |
To better understand the double switch, think of it this way: Mojas (P) replaced Donyez (SS) while McSuper (SS) replaced Daker (P). Mojas and McSuper simply go to each other's positions on the field.
