Double switch

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This article is about a play in baseball. For the video game, see Double Switch.

In baseball, the double switch is a type of player substitution. The double switch allows a manager to make a pitching substitution and defensive (fielding) substitution while at the same time improving the offensive (batting) lineup of a team. Specifically, the double switch is usually used to avoid a plate appearance (at bat) by a newly introduced pitcher (pitchers are generally poor hitters).

The anatomy of a double switch consists of two discrete switches made simultaneously: 1) a pitcher replaces a defensive player who will not be at bat soon, and 2) a defensive player replaces the former pitcher. The advantage is that the short-term batting lineup is strengthened because a poor-hitting pitcher will not soon make a plate appearance. The disadvantage is that a defensive player (often referred to as the victim of a double switch) must be removed from play and replaced by another, often inferior, defensive player.

The double switch is generally only used in the National League, as American League rules allow a designated hitter to bat for the pitcher in the batting order. Managers may not make a double switch for a designated hitter in the lineup, however. Once a DH comes into the game as a fielder, the use of the position is lost and the pitcher must bat for the rest of the game.

[edit] Example

Consider a double switch made by the Chicago Cubs on September 3, 2003 in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, played in Chicago [1]. At the top of the eighth inning, Cubs manager Dusty Baker decided to remove his current pitcher Mark Guthrie. Instead of a single substitution, though, Baker made a double switch by removing both pitcher Guthrie and shortstop Alex S. Gonzalez. Replacing Guthrie was Mark Grudzielanek, who became the Cubs second baseman. Replacing Gonzalez was Joe Borowski, the Cubs relief pitcher. To occupy the now open shortstop position, Tony Womack changed defensive position from second baseman to shortstop, though this position change is not part of the double switch itself.

By inspecting the pre- and post-switch lineups, one can see the offensive advantage over a single switch involving only the pitchers Guthrie and Borowski. By using a double switch, the Cubs avoided forcing a pitcher to hit in the upcoming bottom of the eight inning. Instead, the stronger offensive player Grudzielanek would bat third (and hit a game tying triple, leading to the Cubs overcoming a 6-0 deficit).

The use of the DH in the AL has effectively eliminated that league's use of the double switch.

Before switch	After Switch
CF Kenny Lofton	CF Kenny Lofton	Will bat 2nd next inning
P Mark Guthrie	2B Mark Grudzielanek	Will bat 3rd next inning
RF Sammy Sosa	RF Sammy Sosa
LF Moises Alou	LF Moises Alou
1B Randall Simon	1B Randall Simon
3B Aramis Ramirez	3B Aramis Ramirez
SS Alex S. Gonzalez	P Joe Borowski
C Damian Miller	C Damian Miller
2B Tony Womack	SS Tony Womack	Will bat 1st next inning