What is a Double Switch in Baseball? What Actually Happens?
If you are a fan of baseball, you might see that there is a time during a baseball match when the game is dead and the manager comes from the dugout with his notepad and a pen and starts writing something on it. That is the time when managers use the double switch method to do double replacing of a pitcher and a player.
Table of Contents
What is a Double Switch in Baseball?
Double Pitch usually happens when the manager replaces a pitcher in the line-up as soon as he enters the field to pitch. After that, he substitutes a position player too. A manager can also do this with position players. Who invented the double switch in baseball? Double Switch was invented by Alvin Dark. It was first used in 1962 in the World Series.
Example of Double Switch
What is an example of a Baseball Double Switch? We can take an example by considering that two teams are playing let’s say Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. It’s the top of the sixth innings and the starting pitcher has come up to 90 –pitch count in the end for Milwaukee Brewers. Now the Brewers are leading by one run. As soon as the seventh innings starts the Brewers starting pitcher replaces the first two batters by using the Double Switch Rule. Now he has walked through coming two hitters and the pitch is high.
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Double Switching a DH
Can you Double Switch a DH (Designated Hitter)? It is completely illegal in baseball to double switch a designated hitter. This is because once a designated hitter is selected that position is fixed in batting order. It is quite a difficult decision for the managers to select which player is going to be the designated hitter because once a hitter is selected it is impossible to change him.
Double Switch and Traditional Substitution
How is a Double Switch different from a Traditional Substitution? The main difference between both of them is obvious. Double Switch is discriminated from traditional substitution because of two replacements at a particular time.
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What Makes the Double Switch Difficult for Managers to Implement?
Double Switch can be risky for the team although it is an instant save for the team. Managers have to critically think during the whole game to take this step. It is also risky because it narrows the bench of the team. Hence, this is what makes the Double Switch difficult for managers to implement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Benefit of a Double Switch in Baseball?
Double Switch is beneficial in a way that the coming player for pitching is left until it is his turn to bat. This benefits the defensive team and give them the lead. It is risky but smart step by a team.
Why do Teams do Double Switch?
When teams need to change the batting order of the players, they tend to use this strategy when the pitcher spot is due in the next innings. Team players allow the manager to replace them with other players to bat in the pitcher’s place.
Can Players Switch Positions in Baseball?
Yes, players can change their positions during a game. The team must change their players when the game is dead.
The Bottom Line on Double Switch in Baseball
In conclusion, a double Switch is a smart act done by the manager of a particular team. Manager replaces players to save the game once the game is dead. Different teams are aware of this particular strategy to use in World Series and Interleague games.
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