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November 4, 2010 WallyBall Joe Janish

Wally Knows the Double Switch

Wally Backman knows National League (i.e., true baseball) rules. And unlike some recent Mets managers, he already is well-versed on the head-scratching “double switch” — to the point where he schools the umpire on how it works.

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Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. Walnutz15 November 4, 2010 at 2:06 pm
    Thought this said “Willie Knows The Double Switch”…..almost stabbed my eyes out with a pencil, due to disbelief.
  2. Andy November 4, 2010 at 4:19 pm
    What’s kind of pathetic is that you have a professional (if un-affiliated) baseball league that can’t hire an umpire who understands the double-switch.
    • Joe Janish November 4, 2010 at 5:19 pm
      Agreed, it’s kind of pathetic. But remember, there are very few leagues left in the USA that still play by the real rules of baseball — almost every single league starting with the pee-wees on up to the Alduterated League insists on using the DH. So the double-switch rarely if ever comes up and likely isn’t even taught to umpires.
  3. jay Lund November 5, 2010 at 8:08 am
    Joe,
    why isn’t Lee Mazzilli getting a look?
  4. Joe Janish November 5, 2010 at 12:20 pm
    Who says he’s not?

    It appears that the Mets are first interviewing internal candidates, and although a number of external candidates are being bandied about in the media, I don’t know how many of those names come from sources close to the Mets or are pure conjecture. So for all we know, Maz could be on the list. Then again, we don’t know for sure if Lee Mazzilli WANTS to manage again — and/or manage the Mets under Sandy Alderson. Time will tell.