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, 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 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. American football 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. See also One-platoon system (American football) Two-platoon system (American football) Lefty-righty switch Resting the starters References Baseball terminology Baseball strategy Handedness in baseball American football terminology