I'm wondering if there would be any statistical advantage to swapping a first baseman and a third baseman on at bats where there's a lefty hitting.

We all know that the best hitters in baseball are normally lefties (or switch), and third baseman are typically better fielders than first basemen are; would you be able to swap from at bat to at bat within the infield?

I'm pretty sure it is *currently* unlimited. This reminds me of when Scott Sheldon played all nine positions for the Rangers on September 6, 2000. I that game, he officially played 2 or 3 different positions in some of those innings.

Quo Vadis? said:

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I'm wondering if there would be any statistical advantage to swapping a first baseman and a third baseman on at bats where there's a lefty hitting.

We all know that the best hitters in baseball are normally lefties (or switch), and third baseman are typically better fielders than first basemen are; would you be able to swap from at bat to at bat within the infield?

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Yes, but I'm sure it would be a common practice if it created an advantage.

This was a few years ago, but I think I remember Joe Madden swapping out relievers from the mound to left field (or right field) depending on the handedness of the batter.

Maybe I'm misremembering but it seems to be a similar situation.

I found this before I posted:

Quote:

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He moved pitcher Travis Wood to left field while another pitcher, Spencer Patton, came in to pitch.
After facing a right-handed batter, Maddon swapped them againPatton went to left field and Wood returned to the mound to face a left-handed batter.
This happened again later in the game, with Pedro Strop also taking a turn in left field.
The gambit paid off, as the Cubs won the game, and none of the pitchers were challenged with a difficult play in the outfield.

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The potential downside is that the regular 3B probably won't be as well practiced in all of the 1B's assignments in various scenarios, including the mechanics of receiving the throw on infield plays.

There's also the problem that a lot of 1Bs throw left handed, which doesn't work at any other infield position.

Nothing technically prevents a left handed middle infielder or 3rd baseman from existing. There's an argument that the footwork around second base would be different and the body position to make the throw to first would be a challenge, but we've never really seen a full time player try it to give us an idea of how much of a negative it'd be.

Fuzzy Dunlop said:

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This was a few years ago, but I think I remember Joe Madden swapping out relievers from the mound to left field (or right field) depending on the handedness of the batter.

Maybe I'm misremembering but it seems to be a similar situation.

I found this before I posted:

Quote:

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He moved pitcher Travis Wood to left field while another pitcher, Spencer Patton, came in to pitch.
After facing a right-handed batter, Maddon swapped them againPatton went to left field and Wood returned to the mound to face a left-handed batter.
This happened again later in the game, with Pedro Strop also taking a turn in left field.
The gambit paid off, as the Cubs won the game, and none of the pitchers were challenged with a difficult play in the outfield.

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This is funny, but mainly because Spencer Patton coached my son's local league basketball team a couple years ago.