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pedrooch asked in SportsBaseball · 1 decade ago

DH in American league?

If the Dh is forced out of the game, say he got hit in the face with a pitch or broke a leg, a reason where he has to be removed, as apposed to just the manager taking him out of the lineup, does the pitcher have to hit then or does the rule still apply once a DH is removed the pitcher has to hit.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    To answer this easily, let's take the example of David Ortiz of the Red Sox. He bats third in the red sox line up as th DH. If he were hurt, another player could come in a assume his spot and bat 3rd as the new DH.

    Here are some other highlights of the DH Rule:

    Do not substitute the DH and let the Pitcher hit 3rd. Now the role of DH is permanently removed from the Red Sox for that game. All subsequent pitchers would have to bat Number 3.

    Substitute a fielder, say, Left Field (Manny Ramierez).

    In this case, the DH (Ortiz) would still bat 3rd and the Pitcher would have to bat for Ramierez, which is 4th. This ends the role of DH for the Sox in this game. Only if a double substitution is made where a new DH is named, can the DH stay alive. At that time, the Manager would have to alert the Umpire in Chief that Ortiz would go to Left for Ramierez and continue batting 3rd and that Jacoby Ellsbury will be the new DH. The funny thing, Jacoby Ellsbury would have to bat where Ramierez was in the lineup. You cannot do anything to change where in the Lineup the DH was originally slated to hit, unless you eliminate the position altogether.

    A DH cannot be a substitute runner, ever.

    You can, however, use a substitute runner for a DH, but note that the original DH cannot re enter the game in any capacity.

    If that pinch runner becomes a fielder later on, there cannot be a new DH. That role will go to the pitcher that is currently pitching in the game. You do not have to announce at this point if you will continue to use that pitcher until you either replace him at the plate or change him when you again take the field. A case in point would be if you need a pitcher that is a good batter which you may put in to bat at the DH spot, but he would have to take the field and throw to at least one batter. Babe Ruth would have been a good choice.

    Of interest, if the existing pitcher on the mound comes to bat, he can ONLY bat in the spot where the DH is and this will terminate the DH role for the rest of the game. Any subsequent pitchers would have to bat in that same spot.

    Note that if they should choose to do so, the National League may adopt the DH rule. Currently, as a whole, they do not.

    In the event of a World Series, the DH will be used in the American League parks.

    In the event of the All Star game, both teams must agree wether or not to use the DH rule or not prior to the game.

    In the event of Inter League games, if you are the Home team, your rule applies: American uses it, National does not.

    I hope this clears up some of the mystery of the language of baseball rules.

  • Pete
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    No, if you're playing in an American League park, and the DH gets taken out of the game for whatever the reason, another player on the team who's not already in the lineup has to fill in as the DH. If there are no position players left, then one of the pitchers has to DH.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    That would likely only happen if the game were in the 13th or 14th inning. Only if there's no position players left on the bench, can a pitcher fill in for a batter in the American League, under DH rules.

  • 1 decade ago

    if the dh gets injured and a position player comes in for him then the pitcher has to hit

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  • 1 decade ago

    A manager can pinch hit a batter for a pitcher anytime they want to. Except they only use it if their is no one left and its into deep extra innings and they want to rest their players.

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  • 1 decade ago

    The Manager can put someone in his place and it has been done a lot this year

  • 1 decade ago

    THey can sub someone in for him, yes, in therory, it could be a pitcher.

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