Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-fremen!ryan From: ryan@fremen.DEC (Mike Ryan DTN 264-8280 MK01-2/H32) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Ambidextrous pitchers Message-ID: <3550@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 9-Aug-85 17:28:20 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3550 Posted: Fri Aug 9 17:28:20 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 21:19:42 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 30 I recently read that Greg Harris of the Rangers is ambidextrous, and the Rangers are considering using him from both sides. Right now he pitches right-handed in games but throws batting practice left-handed. This leads to some interesting speculations: He could fill two spots in the starting rotation (pitch right 1 day, left 2 days later, right 2 or 3 days after that...). Switching arms between batters, according to what side of the plate they're on. This is tougher - he'd have to warm up with both arms, and might have trouble, say, keeping his left arm loose while he pitches right-handed several batters in a row. Also, he'd have to have two gloves - could he keep the spare on the field (with the rosin bag), or would he have to go to the bench between batters? Switching arms during one batter - with one-sided batters, this could be useful because it could confuse the batter enough to make up for pitching to him from the "wrong" side. The usefulness of this against switch-hitters is obvious, but leads to a rules question - who would get the last "switch" - the batter or the pitcher? I suspect that there is no rule to cover this; they would go back and forth until either one gave up or the umpire got impatient and ordered them to stay the hell where they are. The glove problem is tougher here, too. An ambidextrous pitcher would be very useful in the bullpen, too, putting whole new twists on pinch-hitter strategy. Mike Ryan ARPA: ryan%fremen.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA UUCP: {decvax,allegra,ihnp4,ucbvax,...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-fremen!ryan