Ok now heres the situation (This is totally hypothetical and I'm not suggesting a manager do this) In baseball once you take out a player they cannot return them to the game, but the players can switch to any position throughout the game... Now the question is can the manager switch the pitcher into a position player, then later switch them back to the pitcher?
Example: Mariano Rivera is pitching in the 8th and retires the side. The yanks then score 5 runs in the top of the ninth, so to save him Joe Torre puts Rivera at first base takes out Andy Philips and puts in Scott Proctor as pitcher. Proctor gives up 3 runs and NOW can Torre put Rivera back as pitcher and take out proctor? I know the question is long but I wanted to be as specific as possible so there is no confusion... If you can give me a rule that would be cool to.
2007-07-31 03:00:49 · 9 answers · asked by dohface215 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The answer is the same as when you asked this question a few days ago (and you could look it up) -- yes. A player, even the pitcher, can be moved to another position and then moved back. The only constraint upon doing this with the pitcher is that the relief pitcher must pitch to at least one batter.
Here's Todd Worrell doing it in 1987, top of the ninth: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1987/B09220SLN1987.htm
Game situation: Cardinals leading at home, 3-1, after eight. Worrell pitching. Schmidt homered (3-2). Worrell moved to RF (replacing Johnson). Dayley came in to pitch, replacing Johnson in the batting order (since Worrell had not left the game). Hayes struck out. Worrell moved back to pitching, Dayley left the game, Morris entered the game in RF. Schu and Daulton made outs, Cardinals win, 3-2. This maneuvering let Herzog get the lefty-lefty matchup of Dayley against Hayes without losing Worrell's services. Check out the pitching lines -- since Worrell's two times on the mound get rolled into one, he gets the Save despite not being the last pitcher listed, because he met all the Save critieria. It's rare, and takes a manager both clever and courageous like Herzog, but it can be done. Now you know.
2007-07-31 04:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A pitcher can move to another position (the position player must be removed or become the new pitcher, of course) and then moved back to the mound later in the game.
You may have heard of Sam McDowell, former Indians starting pitcher. He was moved to second base for part of one inning and successfully handled a chance in the field. Not only is this one of the few instances of a pitcher being shuffled around like this, but it's also one of the few times a lefty has played second base in the majors.
I didn't find a rule in the Major League Baseball rulebook, but shifting a pitcher from the mound to the field is no different from moving a position player from one position to another. Plus, it's been well-documented that it has happened in the past.
2007-07-31 08:12:23 · answer #2 · answered by kcbrez009 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as he didn't leave the game then yes it is possible but then let's realize that the pitcher[s] would have to back since they are in non -pitching positions. If you remember the"pine tar" game when George Brett went nuts after Billy Martin questioned the amount of pine tar on his bat and was called out, the game was protested and the home run stood. Ron Guidry ended the game by playing Center Field
2007-07-31 03:10:22 · answer #3 · answered by KTM07 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, is allowed to happen but you will never see it in MLB. Pitchers are said to be the worst athletes on the field so the managers wouldn't want to risk getting them hurt by putting them in the field. I played college baseball and this actually happened to me. I started the game pitching, ran into trouble in the 6th. The manager put me at shortstop (I could hit as well as I pitched), the shortstop went in to pitch. He walked the first two batters he faced and the manager came back out and switched us back. My arm hurt like crazy the next day but it was a rare thing to take part in.
2007-07-31 05:04:32 · answer #4 · answered by Rick L 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, he could pitch again, but I wouldn't put him at first. Stick him in the outfield, so there is a less of a chance of a play involving him. He just needs to go get the ball and toss it back if it is hit to him. I don't think that is a good idea though. There are enough pitchers in the bullpen to just replace him... he isn't pitching that great this year anyway.
2007-07-31 03:30:50 · answer #5 · answered by rockstar44 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes you can they did it with babe ruth.
he was a pitcher, he had put him at left feild after he retired the side,then one day he pitch again then he had been sent to first.
2007-07-31 03:16:30 · answer #6 · answered by sdpadresmaniacman 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
...the answer is "yes"...(you know the rule)...but why would he place a "tired" pitcher at "first"... you think he can handle the base after all those pitches....?
2007-07-31 03:08:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it can be done. But baseball managers are unable to think "outside the box".
2007-07-31 03:12:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
No can't happen, Rivera can't go back to pitcher once he's been replaced... i think... interesting question either way
2007-07-31 03:03:54 · answer #9 · answered by tails2489 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋