Many teams in the American League elect to have a designated hitter because the pitcher typically has poor batting averages compared to the rest of the team. This is mostly due to lack of practice as pitchers usually practice throwing rather than batting.
A designated hitter is usually a power-hitter with poor defensive skills, and the position often goes to older players who still get a chance to shine behind home plate. There is often some confusion about designated hitters, pinch-hitters, and pinch-runners. While the designated hitter is there solely as a substitute hitter for the pitcher, a pinch-hitter can substitute for any player at bat.
This player is usually substituted in for weaker hitters in the lineup. A pinch-runner is somewhat related in that this player is there solely to run the bases of someone who has already batted. This player is typically used just for speed.
If a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner enters the batting lineup in place of a designated hitter, the new player is considered to be the designated hitter for the rest of the game. Furthermore, if a pinch-hitter bats for any other player and then becomes the active pitcher, the team is not permitted to use a designated hitter. The first talk of creating a designated hitter position was back in , but in , the president of the National League immediately rejected the idea.
On January 11, , there was a meeting amongst the American League's 24 owners on the subject of adding a tenth man to the lineup by means of a designated hitter. The vote passed as owners thought utilizing more power-hitters by means of a designated hitter would bring in more fans who wanted more action.
In a joint meeting on the same day between National League and American League owners, they argued whether to allow the American League a designated hitter position or not. However, the American League ultimately won out and was granted the position. The DH must be selected prior to the game, and that selected hitter must come to bat at least one time -- unless the opposing team changes pitchers prior to that point.
A team that chooses not to select a DH prior to a game is barred from using a DH for the rest of that game. A player who enters the game in place of the DH -- either as a pinch-hitter or a pinch-runner -- becomes the DH in his team's lineup thereafter.
If a player serving as the DH is later used on defense, he continues to bat in his same lineup spot. But for the rest of the game, his team cannot use a DH to bat in place of the pitcher.
A team is also barred from using a DH for the rest of the game if the pitcher moves from the mound to another defensive position, a player pinch-hits for any other player and then becomes the pitcher, or the current pitcher pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the DH.
The DH offers American League managers several options in setting their team's line-ups:. The beauty of the DH is it creates long, productive careers for players who are getting up in age, who have history of injuries, and who are weak fielders. One good example is the case of Hideki Matsui. The Yankees can't ignore the fact that Matsui is still valuable to the team employing him as their full time DH in It work wonders for them. This coming season the Yankees are thinking what to do with their DH spot.
Matsui is a free agent and the Yankees still want him. However, there are other Yankee positional players who need to be treated carefully health wise to prolong their career. The inability of Matsui to play the outfield gives the Yankees no choice but to go to another route. I strongly suggest to bring up guys form the Farm system. They are still raw and a lot to prove.
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