Obscure Baseball Question?

Question

If an AL team used their starting pitcher as their DH, could he still hit as the DH after he leaves the game as a pitcher?

Answer 1

No. If he is pitching and batting then his is not a DH. In fact that means the team elected not to use a DH. Once the game starts without a DH, the team can not use a DH later in the game. Also, if the DH takes a defensive position during the game, the team loses the right to use a DH for the rest of the game.

Answer 2

A pitcher can not be slotted in as DH in the lineup AND pitch. However, if a pitcher gets done pitching, he can pinch hit for the DH and therefore be the new DH, but can not do both at the same time. This will never happen, because well, even the best hitting pitchers are still worse than most bench hitters, not to mention they are likely exhausted from pitching.

Answer 3

A starting pitcher can not be a DH. He may have a DH bat for him, but he can not be classed as the DH.

Think about it, a DH is a designated hitter, all he does is hit, for the pitcher. If the guy was to pitch, and hit, the team would not have designated a hitter for the pitcher! This would be the NL.

Here is the MLB DH rule;

6.10
Any League may elect to use the Designated Hitter Rule.
(a) In the event of inter-league competition between clubs of Leagues using the Designated Hitter Rule and clubs of Leagues not using the Designated Hitter Rule, the rule will be used as follows:
1. In World Series or exhibition games, the rule will be used or not used as is the practice of the home team.
2. In All-Star games, the rule will only be used if both teams and both Leagues so agree.
(b) The Rule provides as follows:
A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and allsubsequent 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 includedin 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 becomes the 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 Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter may not pinch run.
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 Designated Hitter 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 the game pitcher bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. (The game pitcher may only pinch-hit for the Designated Hitter.)
Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be announced until it is the Designated Hitter’s turn to bat.

Answer 4

No he would be pitcher and no DH in that game
So they would not have a DH if he left the game.

Answer 5

no and the team would not only loose the pitcher but the dh as well and would be forced to use the new pitcher as the batter

Answer 6

No a DH cannot enter the game once it has started. The DH position of DH must be in the original lineup.

Answer 7

The pitcher cannot also be the DH.

Answer 8

Well My good man When i was a lad I watched a Baseball game Or two with my pappy and I remember I dont know if the rules Have changed Any since my Day 1999 but As I recall Once The DH Or Designated Hitter as some refer to him Leaves He cannot re-enter the Baseball game

Answer 9

Any player that is taken "out" of the game is gone for that game. So, if the pitcher is hitting for himself, he can be taken "off the mound" and put at another position (say 3rd-base). That means that the 3rd-baseman has to come out because a relief pitcher has to take the mound.
An old baseball trick that has been used hundreds of times is to take the starting pitcher off the mound and put him say, at third base. The 3rd-baseman is taken out of the game, and a relief pitcher is brought in to pitch to one batter. The relief pitcher gets the one out,,, then the manager can take out that relief pitcher and put the starting pitcher back on the mound. Another player is brought in at 3rd base.
This is the only way the starting pitcher may stay in the game is by going to another position.

Answer 10

No, and he may not even be able to pitch if he's on the lineup as a DH in an AL game.