Platoon system

File:Casey Stengel 1953.png popularized the platoon system as manager of the New York Yankees.]]

In baseball, a platoon is a method of sharing playing time, where two players are selected to play a single defensive position. Usually, one platoon player is right-handed and the other is left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing starting pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise. The theory behind this is that generally players hit better against their opposite-handed counterparts, and that in some cases the difference is extreme enough to warrant complementing the player with one of opposite handedness.

Right-handed batters have an advantage against left-handed pitchers and left-handed batters benefit from facing right-handed pitchers.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/19/4190930/the-difference-between-right-and.html |title=The difference between right and left-handed hitters |publisher=KansasCity.com |date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=February 4, 2014}} This is because a right-handed pitcher's curveball breaks to the left, from his own point of view, which causes it to cross the plate with its lateral movement away from a right-handed batter but towards a left-handed batter (and vice versa for a left-handed pitcher), and because batters generally find it easier to hit a ball that is over the plate. Furthermore, since most pitchers are right-handed, left-handed batters generally have less experience with left-handed pitchers. A left-handed pitcher may also be brought in to face a switch-hitter who generally bats left-handed, forcing the batter to shift to his less-effective right-handed stance or to take the disadvantages of batting left-handed against a left-handed pitcher.

Platooning can be viewed negatively. Players prefer to play every day, and managers, including Walter Alston, feared that sharing playing time could decrease confidence.{{cite web|author=Walter Bingham |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1072996/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222054530/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1072996/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |title=A season of struggling to win with percentage baseball is – 09.18.61 – SI Vault |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date=September 18, 1961 |access-date=February 4, 2014}} Mookie Wilson of the New York Mets requested a trade in 1988 after serving in a platoon for three seasons with Lenny Dykstra.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19880301&id=8CdVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5245,6225102|title=Baseball roundup: Mookie Wilson asks for trade|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Daily Record|location=Ellensburg, Washington|date=March 1, 1988|page=11|access-date=February 4, 2014}}

The advantage to alternating hitters based on handedness was known from the early days of baseball. Bob Ferguson, in 1871, became baseball's first switch hitter, allowing him to bat left-handed against right-handed pitchers, and right-handed against left-handed pitchers.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NAPaOOrSVywC&q=%E2%80%9CA+History+of+Platooning.%E2%80%9D&pg=PA595|title=The Complete Armchair Book of Baseball: An All-Star Lineup Celebrates America's National Pastime|first=Bill|last=James|author-link=Bill James|editor=John Thorn|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|year=1997|page=586|isbn=9781578660049}} The first recorded platoon took place in 1887, when the Indianapolis Hoosiers briefly paired the right-handed Gid Gardner and left-handed Tom Brown in center field.{{cite book|last=James|first=Bill|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3uSbqUm8hSAC&q=%22gid+gardner%22&pg=PA43|title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract|publisher=Simon and Schuster|page=117|isbn=9781439106938}}{{cite web|last=Neyer |first=Rob |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=1800872|title=Game's progressive past|work=ESPN.com|date=May 13, 2004|access-date=February 3, 2014}} In 1906, the Detroit Tigers alternated Boss Schmidt, Jack Warner, and Freddie Payne at catcher for the entire season.James, p. 595 As manager of the Boston Braves, George Stallings employed platoons during the 1914 season, which helped the "Miracle" Braves win the 1914 World Series. No Braves outfielder reached 400 at-bats during the 1914 season.{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/1caa4821 |title=George Stallings |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=February 3, 2014}} In 1934 and 1935, Detroit Tigers' manager Mickey Cochrane routinely platooned Gee Walker, a right-handed batter, to spell center fielder Jo-Jo White, a left-handed batter. Cochrane, a left-handed batter, also platooned himself behind the plate with Ray Hayworth, a right-handed batter. Also in the 1930s, Bill Terry of the New York Giants platooned center fielders Hank Leiber and Jimmy Ripple. The approach was seldom used in the 1930s, but Casey Stengel, managing the Braves, platooned third basemen Debs Garms and Joe Stripp in 1938. Stengel himself had been platooned as a player by managers John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson.{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bd6a83d8 |title=Casey Stengel |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=February 4, 2014}} Garms won the National League's batting title in 1940 with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a part-time player under Frankie Frisch.

Terms for this strategy included "double-batting shift, "switch-around players", and "reversible outfield". Tris Speaker referred to his strategy as the "triple shift", because he employed it at three positions.{{cite web|last=Steinberg |first=Steve |url=https://sabr.org/research/manager-speaker |title=Manager Speaker |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=February 3, 2014}} The term "platoon" was coined in the late 1940s. Stengel, now managing the New York Yankees, became a well known proponent of the platoon system,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19490511&id=GSJRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3856,3673232 |title=Casey Stengel Likes To Use Two-Platoon System: Yankee Manager May Have Trouble Whittling His Squad Down to 25 Players | first=Hugh Jr. | last=Fullerton |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |page=10 |date=May 11, 1949 |access-date=February 3, 2014}} and won five consecutive World Series championships from 1949 through 1953 using the strategy. Stengel platooned Bobby Brown, Billy Johnson, and Gil McDougald at third base, Joe Collins and Moose Skowron at first base, and Hank Bauer and Gene Woodling in left field.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19870513&id=iycxAAAAIBAJ&pg=2127,4457202 |title=Don't Blame Casey Stengel For Inventing Platoon System |first=Tom |last=Loomis |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=May 13, 1987 |page=26 |access-date=February 3, 2014}} Harold Rosenthal, writing for the New York Herald, referred to Stengel's strategy as a "platoon", after the American football concept, and it came to be known as "two-platooning".{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/07/28/sometimes-2-bats-are-better-than-1/|title=Sometimes, 2 Bats Are Better Than 1|work=Chicago Tribune|date=July 28, 1985|first=Michael |last=O`Donnell|access-date=February 5, 2014}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b-3JiF4LnJcC&q=harold+rosenthal+platoon+stengel&pg=PA228|title=Stengel: His Life and Times|first=Robert W.|last=Creamer|author-link=Robert Creamer|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=1996|isbn=9780803263673|page=228}}

Following Stengel's success, other teams began implementing their own platoons.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19500428&id=qCojAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,6229287|title='Two Platoon' Idea Getting a Foothold in Major Leagues|agency=Associated Press|date=April 28, 1950|page=2|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|access-date=February 3, 2014}} In the late 1970s through early 1980s, Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver successfully employed a platoon in left field, using John Lowenstein, Benny Ayala, and Gary Roenicke, using whichever player was performing the best at the time.{{cite web|author=Steve Wulf |url=http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125688/index.htm |title=The Orioles' three-player platoon in leftfield has been a – 07.12.82 – SI Vault |publisher=Si.com |date=July 12, 1982 |access-date=February 3, 2014}} Weaver also considered other factors, including the opposing pitcher's velocity, and his batters' ability in hitting a fastball. The Orioles continued to platoon at catcher and all three outfield positions in 1983 under Joe Altobelli, as the Orioles won the 1983 World Series,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19831015&id=LFwlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1807,8205995|title=Orioles down Philadelphia in 5: Platoon system lifts Baltimore past Phillies in World Series|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Sumter Daily Item|page=1B|date=October 17, 1983|access-date=February 4, 2014}} leading other teams to pursue the strategy.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19840313&id=opEcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5380,7550154|title=Tanner apt to platoon outfielders|first=Bob|last=Hertzel|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=D2|date=March 13, 1984|access-date=February 4, 2014}}

{{quote box

|quote="I'd rather be playing every day, but playing every day in the minor leagues is not nearly as pleasant as platooning in the big leagues."

|source= – Brian Daubach{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=20000422&id=1DtSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5491,4283464|title=Red Sox manager has his platoon system in place|page=B1-3|first=Steve|last=Krasner|newspaper=The Day|date=April 22, 2000|access-date=February 4, 2014}}

|width=33%}}

Platooning decreased in frequency from the late 1980s through the 1990s, as teams expanded their bullpens to nullify platoon advantages for hitters. However, the use of platoons has increased in recent years. As teams increase their analysis of data, they attempt to put batters and pitchers in situations where they are more likely to succeed. Generally, small market teams, which cannot afford to sign the league's best players to market-value contracts, are most likely to employ platoons. Under manager Bob Melvin, the Athletics have employed many platoons,{{cite web|url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/oak/as-trio-of-catchers-marching-to-success-in-platoon-system?ymd=20140117&content_id=66792000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012104/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/oak/as-trio-of-catchers-marching-to-success-in-platoon-system?ymd=20140117&content_id=66792000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |title=A's trio of catchers marching to success in platoon system |publisher=Oakland.athletics.mlb.com |date=January 17, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2014}} with Josh Reddick calling Melvin the "king of platoons".{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130314&content_id=42764170&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=Anthony Castrovince: 'King of platoons' Bob Melvin back at it in Oakland | MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=February 3, 2014}} Joe Maddon began to employ platoons as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web |author=tampabaycom |url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/content/rays-platoon-hinske-ruggiano-left/2075017 |title=Rays to platoon Hinske, Ruggiano in left |publisher=Tampabay.com |date=August 12, 2008 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221172520/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/content/rays-platoon-hinske-ruggiano-left/2075017 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-manager-joe-maddon-sticks-with-platoon-advantage-against/1127530 |title=Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon sticks with platoon advantage against Rangers ace Cliff Lee |publisher=Tampabay.com |access-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221134452/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-manager-joe-maddon-sticks-with-platoon-advantage-against/1127530 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox platooned Jonny Gomes and Daniel Nava in left field.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/anthony-castrovince-platooning-and-position-sharing-in-mlb-here-to-stay?ymd=20140131&content_id=67311170&vkey=news_mlb |title=Anthony Castrovince: Platooning and position-sharing in MLB here to stay | MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=February 3, 2014}} After the 2013 season, left-handed relief pitchers Boone Logan and Javier López, both considered left-handed specialists because of their ability to limit the effectiveness of left-handed batters, signed multimillion-dollar contracts as free agents.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/teams-ongoing-quest-to-gain-platoon-advantage-takes-a-left-turn/|title=The Quest To Gain Platoon Advantage Takes A Left Turn|work=Baseball America|date=March 13, 2014|first=Matt |last=Eddy|access-date=March 14, 2014}}

File:Spurrier_1999.jpg often used "platooning quarterbacks".]]

The term "two-platoon system", in contrast with the "one-platoon system", was once used for the practice, universal today at all levels of football, of using mostly or entirely different players on offense, defense, and special teams.

When a football team uses two or more quarterbacks to run their offense, rather than the traditional one, it is known as "platooning quarterbacks". This tactic is less common the higher the echelons of American football, as high school teams are more likely to do it than National Football League teams, for example.

Quarterbacks may be switched in and out of the game at every play, every drive, every quarter, depending on certain situations. If quarterbacks are switched on a game-to-game basis, it is not platooning, it is known as a "quarterback controversy", or a simple "benching".

Using two different quarterbacks allows an offensive team to use players with different skill sets. One common reason teams platoon quarterbacks is because one player is a good passer and the other a good runner, for example Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine of the 1997 Ohio State Buckeyes. Defensive teams, therefore, must prepare for two types of quarterback. It also allows offenses teams to run a greater variety of plays.

• One-platoon system (American football)
• Two-platoon system (American football)
• Lefty-righty switch
• Resting the starters

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Baseball}}

{{Baseball positions}}

{{American football strategy}}

{{Gridiron football concepts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Platoon System}}

Category:Baseball terminology

Category:Baseball strategy

Category:Handedness in baseball

Category:American football terminology