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 (turn to bat) by a newly introduced pitcher (pitchers, especially relievers, are generally poor hitters). This article is about the sport. ... A baseball pitcher delivers the ball to home plate In baseball, pitching is the act of throwing the baseball from the pitchers mound toward the catcher with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to make contact with it, or draw a walk. ... This article is about baseball. ... In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance (denoted by PA) each time he completes a turn batting. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

A double switch consists of two substitutions made simultaneously. In the usual scenario: 1) a pitcher replaces a position player who will not be at bat soon, and 2) a position player replaces the former pitcher. The reason for this tactic is that a player must bat in the same spot in the batting lineup as the player he replaces. The advantage is that in the short-term the lineup is strengthened because a poor-hitting pitcher will not soon make a plate appearance. The disadvantage is that a position player (often referred to as the victim of a double switch) must be removed from play and replaced by another, often inferior, position player. In baseball, a position player is a player who on defense plays as an infielder, outfielder, or catcher. ...

The advantage of the double switch over pinch hitting is that it uses up less players. If a relief pitcher is brought in before the at-bat, then the manager could substitute a pinch-hitter for him. However, this would require a new pitcher for the next half-inning. By pulling the double switch, a new pitcher brought in before the at-bat drops far enough in the lineup that he can be left in the game to pitch multiple innings before his spot in the lineup comes up. In baseball, a pinch hitter is a common term for a substitute batter. ...

Even though a position player was put in the game in place of the pitcher, and a pitcher was put into the game in place of a position player, the position player is not required to pitch, and the pitcher is not required to play the field. In baseball, a new player entering the game can play any defensive position (including pitcher) as long as he bats in the spot in the batting order in which the player he replaced was batting.

While the double switch plays an important role in the National League, the designated hitter (DH) rule in the American League has effectively eliminated the advantages of the double switch and is rarely used. The designated hitter's role is to bat in the pitcher's spot in the lineup. Major League rules do not allow a multiple substitution involving a DH to alter the lineup position of the DH. However, although uncommon, it is possible to forgo the DH privilege, e.g. if the DH becomes a position player, and then utilize the double switch later with that player. For other uses, see National League (disambiguation). ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ...

Example

Consider a double switch made by the Boston Red Sox on October 27, 2007 in Game Three of the World Series against the National League champions Colorado Rockies, played at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Red Sox manager Terry Francona decided to remove relief pitcher Mike Timlin. Instead of a single substitution, though, Francona made a double switch by removing both Timlin and right-fielder J.D. Drew. Replacing Timlin in the batting lineup was Coco Crisp, who took over in center field, and Jacoby Ellsbury was moved to right field. Relief pitcher Hideki Okajima was then inserted in the Red Sox batting order for the spot that was occupied by Drew. Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908–present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Other nicknames The BoSox, The Olde Towne Team, The Sox Ballpark Fenway Park (1912–present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see National League (disambiguation). ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) West Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Colorado Rockies (1993–present) Other nicknames The Rocks, The Rox, Blake Street Bombers, Hurdles Heroes. ... Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado is the home field of the National Leagues Colorado Rockies. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country State Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ... Terry Jon Tito Francona (born April 22, 1959, in Aberdeen, South Dakota) is a Major League Baseball manager. ... Michael August (Mike) Timlin (born March 10, 1966 in Midland, Texas) is a middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Boston Red Sox since 2003. ... David Jonathan Drew (born November 20, 1975 in Valdosta, Georgia, USA) is a Major League Baseball centerfielder, commonly known as J.D. Drew is a left-handed batting outfielder who began his major league career in 1998 with the St. ... Covelli Loyce Coco Crisp (born November 1, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. ... Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury (born September 11, 1983, in Madras, Oregon) is a Major League Baseball player who is currently the top rated prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization[1] and rated as the # 33 prospect for 2007 by Baseball America. ... Hideki Okajima , born December 25, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan) is a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. ...

As a result, in the top of the eighth inning cather Jason Varitek led off, followed by short-stop Julio Lugo, then Crisp. This gave the Red Sox an offensive advantage by not having to use a pitcher as the third batter in the inning, especially since pitchers in the American League rarely, if ever, bat during the regular season because of the designated hitter rule. The newly inserted pitcher would not have to bat until the ninth position in Francona's revised lineup. Varitek grounded out when he came to bat and Lugo walked. Crisp, batting third in the inning in place of the pitcher’s hitting position, ended up hitting a single to center field and eventually scored as part of a three-run inning that extended the Red Sox lead in Game Three to 9-5 at the end of 8 1/2 innings. Francona’s use of the double switch rule played a significant role in the 10-5 Red Sox victory and gave the American League champions a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the 2007 World Series. Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972 in Rochester, Michigan) is an American baseball player. ... Julio Cesar Lugo (born on November 16, 1975 in Barahona, Dominican Republic) is a major league shortstop for the Boston Red Sox. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Dates: October 24, 2007–(October 28 - November 1, 2007)[1] MVP: TBD Television: FOX Announcers: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver Umpires: Ed Montague, Laz Díaz, Ted Barrett, Chuck Meriwether, Mike Everitt, Mike Reilly[2] ALCS: Boston Red Sox over Cleveland Indians (4-3) NLCS: Colorado Rockies over Arizona Diamondbacks...