In baseball, what's the difference between a designated hitter and a pinch hitter?

a designated hitter is used on american league teams, and in the world series. He almost always hits for the pitcher everytime the pitcher would be coming up to bat. A pinch hitter is a person that gets one at bat for a person, and thats it. For example, if the phillies decide to pull joe blanton tonight in the sixth inning and he is coming up to bat, and they pinch hit for him. This would mean that joe blanton is now ineligible to pitch again because once a person is substituted they cannot come back in, then the pinch hitter will get his at bat. When the Phillies go and play the field, another substitution will be made for the pinch hitter for a relief pitcher. This is why the pinch hitter is now ineligible to hit again.

A designated hitter is a player that you only see in the American League unless a National League team is playing in an American League park (where they have to go by American League rules). A designated hitter is someone who bats in place of the pitcher. A pinch hitter is seen more in the National League because it is a player brought in to replace someone at the plate (usually a pitcher who will not be returning to the mound in the next inning). The reason they are saying "no more designated hitter" now is because the series has shifted from New York (American League park) to Philadelphia (National League park) so the game is played by National League rules which does not allow for a designated hitter.

Most of what has already been said is correct, but to make it simpler: A DH is used in AL games as the 9th spot in the batting order, the pitcher doesn't bat at all. A pinch hitter isn't a position...anyone can be used as a pinch hitter. It works like this: Player A is a poor batter, so when he comes up to bat, the coach subs in Player B for him. Player A is has been removed from the game...he can't come back in the same game. Player B is now in play instead...the coach can either leave him in to play for Player A, or sub in a Player C after Player B is due to play in the field (defense). Basically, all it means is a substitution that occurs when a player is up to bat, instead of at any other time. EDIT: Yes, Fozzy got it right while I was typing it. Good job Fozzy.

Basic question..it goes like this.

The designated hitter is a batter who bats for the pitcher, in the American League only....he gets as many at bats as the regular players and the manager can allow him to bat anywhere in the lineup..example...Matsui with the Yankees.

Since there is no designated hitter in the National League, when the game is in Philly, like tonight..no DH, the pitcher must bat..note that last night, Andy Pettite the Yankee pitcher batted and got a key hit.

But when the game reverts back to New York (American League)..the DH will be used again.

A pinch hitter...he gets one at bat, per the managers strategy, but the player he bats for is taken out of the game. It usually occurs during the late innings..and it makes a difference if the batter is left handed or right handed.

There is no new rule..it's been like that since 1972...

The Designated Hitter (DH) plays the enitre game as a hitter only. He hits for the pitcher and does not play on defense. This is an American League rule.

The Pinch Hitter, like the DH, goes into the game to hit but not play defense. A Pinch Hitter will come into the game in the place of another player (often but not always the pitcher) to hit. If the manager wants him to take more than one at-bat, the player must be switched into a defensive position and he ceases to be a pinch hitter. The PH often comes in the game usually late in the game to hit for bullpen pitchers or add much needed power in late or extra innings.

Des. hitter in the American League - The Yankees plays every game and hits for the pitcher.

Pin. Hitter National League - The Phillies pitchers hit and team has batters replace them when they are taken out of the game, or to hit for another player.

Hope this helps.

When they play in the national league teams ballpark they play by they no D.H. rule and in the american league teams ballpark they play with the D.H. rule

A D.H. hits for the pitcher and a pinch hitter is like a substitute and can hit any time for anyone