Here is something that the rule book says nothing about!

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Dec 4, 2009
236
0
Buffalo, NY
I have gone thru all the rule books and it isn't in them so I guess it is OK, despite what people are telling me. I know that if you decide to switch batter's boxes while the pitcher is in position, but how many times can a batter change from one side to the other during an at bat? Now I was told once that you can do it only once, but I cannot find it in any rule book so I assume that you can switch as many times as you want. If you have the answer, give me the rule number.

Thanks,
Coach Al
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I think is is 0.

7.3.D.

The umps we play with will let them jump but is seems optional to me unless they get chased out of thier declared box, then they can pick again.

Batter can ask for a timeout to switch but ump may say no.
 
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Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
I remember hearing about about a situation in MLB or possibly the minors. Can't recall for sure.

There was an ambidextrous pitcher and a switch hitter facing each other. The pitcher had a custom made glove. Every time the pitcher switch his glove the batter would change batter's box. Forgot how the umpires stopped the gamesmanship during the game, but I recall MLB coming up with a rule that gave the home team the final say in the match up.
 
Aug 21, 2011
1,345
38
38°41'44"N 121°9'47.5"W
I remember hearing about about a situation in MLB or possibly the minors. Can't recall for sure.

There was an ambidextrous pitcher and a switch hitter facing each other. The pitcher had a custom made glove. Every time the pitcher switch his glove the batter would change batter's box. Forgot how the umpires stopped the gamesmanship during the game, but I recall MLB coming up with a rule that gave the home team the final say in the match up.

What came out of that game is that once the batter is set, they cannot change sides. Advantage to the pitcher.

Here's the video.

 
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MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
What came out of that game is that once the batter is set, they cannot change sides. Advantage to the pitcher.

Not so fast. The pitcher must commit to a throwing hand prior to the batter entering the BB. Once committed, the pitcher is forbidden to change pitching hands until that batter is retired and the process starts over again.

Advantage batter
 
Aug 21, 2011
1,345
38
38°41'44"N 121°9'47.5"W
Not so fast. The pitcher must commit to a throwing hand prior to the batter entering the BB. Once committed, the pitcher is forbidden to change pitching hands until that batter is retired and the process starts over again.

Advantage batter

I'm fairly positive that I read it was the batter that had to stay put. So positive, that I'd be willing to bet a six pack of Busch Light on it.
 
Aug 21, 2011
1,345
38
38°41'44"N 121°9'47.5"W
I revoke my Busch Light offer. It was the PU's ruling I remember, because he forced the batter to bat from the right handed batter's box. It looks as though MLB created a rule afterwards that forced the pitcher to declare which hand they were intending to pitch with. :)
 
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