Baseball Rules Questions

[dustcover]

First let me say that I have reviewed previous threads to see if this post might fit in with a previous thread. I sincerely hope that by creating a new thread that I'm not doing so outside of the recent reminder by the moderator regarding the creating of duplicate issues.

 

So here goes. If in mid-game a manager wishes to substitute a player, can he then move the DH to a positional player's role. Just for clarification, let me give a hypothetical situation. Let's say Sandy Leon is the DH and batting 6th in the lineup. But in the fifth inning the starting catcher, who has been batting 9th, is injured. Can Farrell then make a double switch and put Leon behind the plate with Leon retaining his place batting 6th, and a bench player taking over the role of DH while hitting in the vacated 9th slot?

Edited August 19, 2016 by dustcover

[sk7326]

No.

 

Once Leon goes into the game, the DH goes poof. The pitcher bats in the catcher's spot then.

[Dojji]

A Baseball Basics thread is reasonable new thread to add. I think this is fine. Maybe should have been put in MLB discussion instead.

[Dojji]

No.

 

Once Leon goes into the game, the DH goes poof. The pitcher bats in the catcher's spot then.

 

I think that rule may be changed at some point. This is the reason that offensive catchers don't DH very much, even though it's technically a way to use them while reducing wear on their knees and ankles. Being able to use both catchers in the lineup without having to fear losing the DH if the defensively-playing catcher gets hurt would make situations like the one we THOUGHT we had with Swihart and Vazquez at the start of the year much easier to deal with.

[Nick]

The Designated Hitter rule:

A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief.

 

The Designated Hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game.

 

Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter himself becomes a Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re-enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.

 

A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of the Designated Hitter.

 

A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter.

 

Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch-hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.

 

Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.

 

 

So in theory, say you have a player that can both hit and pitch. He's a bona fide closer. He starts out as a DH and then comes in for the pitcher to close out the game.

Edited August 19, 2016 by Nick

[Maxbialystock]

Maybe I'm nuts, but it seem to me you don't risk much by losing the DH because thereafter you can either let the pitcher hit or pinch-hit. This is what all MLB managers do in every game (almost every game) played in a NL park.

 

To me using Leon yesterday as the DH carried very little risk and had the great benefit of keeping a good bat in the lineup while giving Ortiz a rest (and, really, Leon too).

[Spudboy]

Maybe I'm nuts, but it seem to me you don't risk much by losing the DH because thereafter you can either let the pitcher hit or pinch-hit. This is what all MLB managers do in every game (almost every game) played in a NL park.

 

To me using Leon yesterday as the DH carried very little risk and had the great benefit of keeping a good bat in the lineup while giving Ortiz a rest (and, really, Leon too).

 

Can't argue with that.

[Slasher9]

Maybe I'm nuts, but it seem to me you don't risk much by losing the DH because thereafter you can either let the pitcher hit or pinch-hit. This is what all MLB managers do in every game (almost every game) played in a NL park.

 

To me using Leon yesterday as the DH carried very little risk and had the great benefit of keeping a good bat in the lineup while giving Ortiz a rest (and, really, Leon too).

100%. having both in the lineup is apples to orange to PHing for the catcher.

[Kimmi]

Maybe I'm nuts, but it seem to me you don't risk much by losing the DH because thereafter you can either let the pitcher hit or pinch-hit. This is what all MLB managers do in every game (almost every game) played in a NL park.

 

To me using Leon yesterday as the DH carried very little risk and had the great benefit of keeping a good bat in the lineup while giving Ortiz a rest (and, really, Leon too).

 

It would be a problem, IMO, if the catcher got injured early in the game. You're not going to pinch hit for your starter if it's early, and having him come to bat 2-3 times could be an issue. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but nor would it be ideal.

 

This is a reason why I really liked the idea of having Swihart taking reps at 1B, 3B, or LF. He'd give you a 3rd catcher in a crunch.

[a700hitter]

100%. having both in the lineup is apples to orange to PHing for the catcher.

keeping Leon's bat in the lineup was a move that I agree with. He is the second hottest bat on the team, but it is against the conventional managers book. Also, it is not apples and oranges from the other night where he kept the hot bat on the bench where he had a much better chance of getting us an insurance run with one inning left.

[Dojji]

I definitely agree on the importance of keeping Leon in the lineup as much as possible right now. If this is the real Sandy Leon, you have to eventually start asking the question of whether you should be playing him as catcher at all. He is hitting at an elite level, even if you normalize BABIP, the performance level is still elite, and it's elite regardless of position, not just "for a catcher."

 

At what point is the bat too good to risk the incidental injuries and wear and tear that every catcher always experiences over the grind of a full season? At what point is the play to make Leon the full time DH or 1B and look for another solution at backstop?

[Nick]

It would be a problem, IMO, if the catcher got injured early in the game. You're not going to pinch hit for your starter if it's early, and having him come to bat 2-3 times could be an issue. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but nor would it be ideal.

 

This is a reason why I really liked the idea of having Swihart taking reps at 1B, 3B, or LF. He'd give you a 3rd catcher in a crunch.

 

Nevermind.....you are correct