The Marlins screwed up a double switch yesterday, and Joe Girardi protested:
New York manager Joe Girardi protested the game because of a mixup with the Marlins lineup in the eighth inning, when a Florida player was removed in a double switch but took his position on the field anyway . . .
. . . In an odd mixup, Chris Coghlan started the top of the eighth in left field after Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez had removed him in a double switch. Alejandro De Aza batted for pitcher Renyel Pinto in the seventh and was supposed to take over in left, but never ran on the field.
Leo Nunez threw a pitch, then Girardi came out to protest. After about a 5-minute delay, Coghlan was removed, Jeremy Hermida went to left field and the Yankees played the rest of the game under protest. They were trailing 6-3 at the time.
I guess you sort of have to protest that, but even if Girardi is successful, and the game result nullified, I’m not sure New York comes out ahead. That’s because the game would be resumed at some later date with the Marlins ahead by three in the eighth inning. The chances of the Yankees coming back from that aren’t all that great, really, and when you add in the facts that the game would have to take place on an off day during the height of the summer or the height of the pennant race, would require superfluous travel, and would tax the bullpen, one wonders if it’s really worth it. At the very least, if you’re the Yankees you’d hope that the protest is successful, and the resumption of the game is scheduled for the day after the end of the season. If New York is out of the playoffs by one game, great, resume the Marlins game. If not, let it slide.