A platoon system in baseball or American football is a method for substituting players in groups (platoons), to keep complementary players together during playing time.
49-750: As manager As coach David Martinez (born September 26, 1964) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder who is the manager for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously served as the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs . He played in MLB for the Cubs, Montreal Expos , Cincinnati Reds , San Francisco Giants , Chicago White Sox , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Texas Rangers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Atlanta Braves from 1986 to 2001. Martinez had
98-482: 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. Mookie Wilson of the New York Mets requested
147-940: A .276 career batting average , 1,599 hits , 91 home runs , 795 runs scored, and 580 runs batted in . Martinez became the bench coach for the Rays in 2008 , under manager Joe Maddon . When Maddon became manager of the Cubs after the 2014 season, Martinez joined him there as bench coach. The Nationals hired Martinez as their manager after the 2017 season, and he led the team to a 2019 World Series championship in his second season. Born in Brooklyn , New York , to Puerto Rican parents, Martinez lived at East 93rd Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan . He then lived in Brentwood, New York and played little league for BYA (Brentwood Youth Activities). At age 13, his family moved to Orlando, Florida , at
196-601: A 108-year long drought. The Washington Nationals elected not to extend manager Dusty Baker 's contract after a second consecutive season in which the Nationals reached the National League Division Series and lost in five games (in 2016 to the Los Angeles Dodgers ; in 2017 to Martinez's Cubs). Martinez was one of just a handful of candidates mentioned for the open managerial job. On October 30, 2017,
245-709: A black player's head. Now, however, baseball is fully integrated, and there is little to no racial tension between teammates. Between 1943 and 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League fielded teams in several Midwestern towns. Platoon system In baseball, it is usually used to optimize batting performance against pitchers of opposite handedness . Right-handed batters generally perform better against left-handed pitchers and vice versa. Despite some resistance from players who prefer consistent play time, this strategy has been effectively used by managers like Casey Stengel of
294-482: 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
343-522: 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
392-599: A higher rate than any other major league manager. On July 2, 2022, the Nationals exercised Martinez's option for the 2023 season. Martinez resides in Safety Harbor, Florida , a suburb of Tampa and is the father of four children and two granddaughters. Jagger attended the University of Tampa , where he played for the school's soccer team. Dalton played baseball at the College of Central Florida in 2014. The family also provided
441-499: A second home to Dalton's best friend Mike Love . In September 2019, Dave Martinez underwent a cardiac catheterization after experiencing chest pains during a win over the Atlanta Braves. Professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout
490-414: A trade in 1988 after serving in a platoon for three seasons with Lenny Dykstra . 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. The first recorded platoon took place in 1887, when
539-532: 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
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#1732855213970588-560: 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". Following Stengel's success, other teams began implementing their own platoons. 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
637-553: The 2019 World Series . In Game 6 of the best-of-7 series, Martinez was ejected after an argument with an umpire over a controversial call. The next night, Martinez and the Nationals captured the 2019 World Series championship by defeating the Houston Astros in Game 7. The Nationals won all four games as the visiting team, the first time that this has happened in a World Series. In 2020, he had his pitching staff issue intentional walks at
686-721: The Commissioner of Baseball . Operating outside the Minor League Baseball organization are many independent minor leagues such as the Atlantic League , American Association , Frontier League , and the feeder league to these the Empire Professional Baseball League . Japan has had professional baseball since the 1930s. Nippon Professional Baseball consists of two leagues, the Central League and
735-876: The Geneva Cubs of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League and the Quad Cities Cubs of the Class A Midwest League . He began the 1984 season with Quad Cities, and in 1985, he received a promotion to the Winston-Salem Spirits of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League . Martinez led the Carolina League with a .342 batting average ; the second-place finishers, Keith Miller and John Wilson, batted .302. Martinez began
784-641: The Indianapolis Hoosiers briefly paired the right-handed Gid Gardner and left-handed Tom Brown in center field . In 1906, the Detroit Tigers alternated Boss Schmidt , Jack Warner , and Freddie Payne at catcher for the entire season. 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
833-461: The New York Yankees to win multiple World Series championships. In American football, the term " two-platoon system " refers to the practice of using different players on offense, defense, and special teams . Additionally, "platooning quarterbacks" is a tactic where two quarterbacks with different skill sets are used alternately to maximize offensive potential and variability. This requires
882-701: The Pacific League , each with six teams. South Korea has had professional baseball since 1982. There are 10 teams in KBO League . Taiwan has had professional baseball since the 1990s. The Chinese Professional Baseball League absorbed Taiwan Major League in 2003. There are currently 6 teams in the CPBL. Other Asian leagues include three now defunct leagues, the China National Baseball League , Israel Baseball League , and Baseball Philippines . During
931-531: The minor leagues is not nearly as pleasant as platooning in the big leagues." – Brian Daubach 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
980-530: The "triple shift", because he employed it at three positions. 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, 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 . Harold Rosenthal, writing for
1029-503: The 1914 season. 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
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#17328552139701078-647: The 1986 season with the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA American Association . The Cubs promoted Martinez to the major leagues for the first time on June 15, 1986, and he served as an injury replacement for Bob Dernier . He had a .119 batting average (8-for-67) before he was optioned back to the minor leagues in August. Martinez made the Cubs major league roster in 1987, splitting time in center field with Dernier. He batted .292 in 142 games. Martinez struggled in
1127-614: The 1988 season, batting .230 in mid-June. On July 14, 1988, Martinez was traded to the Montreal Expos in exchange for Mitch Webster . He finished 1988 with a .255 batting average and 23 stolen bases. Martinez was pegged as a platoon player in Montreal, as he batted against right-handed pitchers and sat against left-handed pitchers. The Expos also had outfielders Otis Nixon , Marquis Grissom , and Larry Walker on their roster. He played 126 games in 1989, hitting .274. In 1990, Martinez lost
1176-459: The 1996 season as a backup behind Darren Lewis , Tony Phillips , and Danny Tartabull , along with fellow backup Lyle Mouton . In 1997, Martinez batted, .286 and set career highs with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs. He then signed a two-year contract with the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays worth $ 3.5 million with an option for a third season at $ 1.75 million. In addition his desire to play in Florida, he
1225-585: The 2001 season, but only .233 in the second half. Late in the year, he was diagnosed with chronic tendinitis in the patella . He appeared in the MLB postseason for the only time in his career, as he played in the 2001 National League Division Series , as the Braves defeated the Houston Astros , and the 2001 National League Championship Series , where the Braves lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks . Martinez returned to
1274-504: 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 . 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
1323-460: The Astros' managerial position, which went to Bo Porter . During the 2013 offseason, Martinez interviewed for Cubs' managerial position, which went to Rick Renteria , and the Washington Nationals ' managerial position, which went to Matt Williams . Rays' manager Joe Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay after the 2014 season. The Rays sought feedback from their players on who should manage
1372-489: The Braves in 2002, but missed the entire season after he injured his right knee during spring training. He announced his retirement. In 1,919 games played, Martinez had a .276 career batting average, 1,599 hits, 91 home runs, 795 runs scored, and 580 RBIs. Martinez worked for the Tampa Bay Rays as a spring training instructor in 2006 and 2007. On October 11, 2007, he was hired by the Tampa Bay Rays to be their bench coach. As
1421-693: The Cubs traded Martinez to the Texas Rangers in a three team trade that sent Chuck Smith from the Florida Marlins to the Rangers and Brant Brown from the Marlins to the Cubs. On August 4, 2000, the Rangers traded Martinez to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later . The Blue Jays sent Peter Munro to the Rangers to complete the trade. By playing for four MLB teams in one season, Martinez tied
1470-554: The Nationals announced they had come to terms with Martinez on a three-year manager contract starting with the 2018 season , with a club option for the 2021 season. Martinez returned to the Nationals franchise after playing with the club from 1988 to 1991 when it was the Expos. He earned his first win as a major league manager in his first career game managed, as the Nationals shut out the Cincinnati Reds 2–0 on March 30, 2018, to begin
1519-526: The Rays' bench coach, Martinez was in charge of defensive positioning, and worked with the Rays' players on bunting and baserunning. Martinez interviewed for managerial positions with Toronto in the 2010 offseason and the Cleveland Indians . During the 2011 offseason, Martinez interviewed for White Sox' managerial position. The White Sox hired Robin Ventura . After the 2012 season, Martinez was considered for
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1568-685: The Reds. He competed with Reggie Sanders for the starting job during spring training . Martinez played for Cincinnati in 1992, but as Sanders established himself as the Reds' starting center fielder, Martinez declared for free agency after the season. He signed with the San Francisco Giants on a two-year contract for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He suffered a torn hamstring in 1993 and was limited to 91 games. He hit .241, his lowest average in several seasons. The Giants waived Martinez in October 1994 after he
1617-462: The United States and Canada. The minor leagues are divided into classes AAA, AA, High-A, A, and Rookie. These minor-league divisions are affiliated with major league teams, and serve to develop young players and rehabilitate injured major-leaguers. "Affiliated baseball" (archaically, " organized baseball ") is often applied as an umbrella term for all leagues — major and minor — under the authority of
1666-428: The competition for the center field job to Grissom. However, Grissom was injured, and Martinez platooned with Nixon in center field. Martinez batted .279 with 11 home runs in 118 games in 1990. He batted .295 in 1991. After the 1991 season, the Expos traded Martinez with Willie Greene and Scott Ruskin to the Cincinnati Reds for Bill Risley and John Wetteland . He was sought out as a replacement for Eric Davis for
1715-406: The defensive team to prepare for two types of quarterbacks, but it's less common in higher echelons of football due to the potential for "quarterback controversies". 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
1764-582: The four teams, he had a .274 batting average, five home runs, and 47 runs batted in (RBIs) in 132 games. He is one of the few players to play for both major league Canadian teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos. Martinez signed with the Atlanta Braves on a two-year contract covering the 2001 and 2002 seasons, valued at approximately $ 3 million. He batted .328 in the first half of
1813-590: The late 19th and early 20th centuries, players of black African descent were barred from playing the major leagues , though several did manage to play by claiming to be Cubans or Native Americans . As a result, a number of parallel Negro leagues were formed. However, after Jackie Robinson began playing with the major-league Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the Negro leagues gradually faded. The process of integration did not go entirely smoothly; there were some ugly incidents, including pitchers who would try to throw directly at
1862-464: 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, with Josh Reddick calling Melvin the "king of platoons". Joe Maddon began to employ platoons as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays . The 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox platooned Jonny Gomes and Daniel Nava in left field. After
1911-462: The oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in both Major League Baseball and all of American professional sports. In addition to the major leagues, many North American cities and towns feature minor league teams. An organization officially styled Minor League Baseball , formerly the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, oversees nearly all minor league baseball in
1960-500: 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. This
2009-597: The recommendation of one of his uncles. Martinez attended Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida . He played on the school's baseball team, which won the Five Star Conference championship in 1981. He then enrolled at Valencia Community College , where he played college baseball . The Chicago Cubs selected Martinez in the January phase of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft . After he signed, he played for
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2058-546: The record. Since 1901, the previous players to play for four MLB teams in a season were Frank Huelsman (1904), Willis Hudlin (1940), Paul Lehner (1951), Wes Covington (1961), Mike Kilkenny (1972), and Dave Kingman (1977). Dan Miceli (2003) and José Bautista (2004) later achieved the feat. With Toronto, he filled in for the injured Raúl Mondesí as the Blue Jays contended for the American League wild card . Between
2107-445: The season. Throughout his first season, Martinez made strategic lineup moves; placing Bryce Harper in the leadoff spot for the first time in over four years on May 1, 2018, and allowing ace Max Scherzer to throw 121 pitches on May 19, 2018. The Nationals finished the 2018 season with an 82–80 record. The Nationals began the 2019 season with a 19–31 record and public calls began for Martinez to be fired. The Nationals rebounded and reached
2156-413: The team. Evan Longoria , Alex Cobb , and Ben Zobrist endorsed Martinez. Martinez interviewed for the position, but was not among the Rays' three finalists. Martinez announced his intention to leave the Rays. On December 4, he was hired to serve as the bench coach for the Cubs under Maddon. In 2016, Martinez was part of the Cubs' coaching staff that led the team to winning the 2016 World Series , breaking
2205-664: The world. Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). Historically, teams in one league never played teams in the other until the World Series , in which the champions of the two leagues played against each other. This changed in 1997 with the advent of interleague play . The Philadelphia Phillies , founded in 1883, are
2254-550: Was enticed by the Rays' additions of Fred McGriff , Wilson Álvarez , and Roberto Hernández . In 1998, he recorded the first hit in Tampa history. His contract option for the 2000 season vested when he recorded his 500th at bat of the 1999 season. After batting .260 in his first 29 games of the 2000 season, the Devil Rays, who needed to improve their pitching staff, traded Martinez to the Cubs for Mark Guthrie and cash. On June 9, 2000,
2303-469: Was held to a .247 average, four home runs and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). Martinez signed a one-year, $ 500,000 contract with the Chicago White Sox for the 1995 season. He received limited playing time under manager Gene Lamont . When Lamont was replaced by Terry Bevington , Martinez saw an increase in playing time. He signed a two-year $ 1.425 million contract for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. He spent
2352-480: Was performing the best at the time. 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 , leading other teams to pursue the strategy. "I'd rather be playing every day, but playing every day in
2401-585: 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 . 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
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