In MLB, do both leagues use designated hitters?

Question

What is the difference between a pinch hitter, and a designated hitter?

Answer 1

First of all I must tell you the history of designated hitters. Originally both leagues had the pitchers bat but in the 1970's most games were low scoring and a lot of American league teams were in small markets. To keep fans in small markets coming to games the American league teams and the commisoner of baseball decided to try to make games higher scoring without changing the game too much. they found that pitchers had low batting averages and that having another player hit would lead to more scoring.
So only american league teams use a designated hitter (except in interleague play it depends on who the home team is)
A pinch hitter has to replace a player while a designated hitter plays the whole game, and when he replaces him he has to play the field. You can also have pinch runners who take someones place on base instead of hitting for them. There can be more than one pinch hitter but not more than one designated hitter.

Answer 2

The American League uses a designated hitter who only hits in the lineup and is not on the field defensinvely. The National League doesn't have a designated hitter because the pitcher is required to hit in the lineup.

I guess the difference between the designated hitter and the pinch hitter is that the designated hitter plays the entire game (unless replaced) while the pinch hitter comes into the game to replace a hitter in the lineup (ie pitcher).

Answer 3

Only the American League uses the designated hitter. It's been that way since the 1972 season.
The designated hitter takes the place of the pitcher's spot; that way the pitcher doesn't have to hit. I'm guessing that the rule was in place to give the pitchers more rest, and more protection from being hit by the opposing pitchers.
As for a pinch hitter, they are used to replace a batter. Afterwards, if they get on base, or whatever, they can remain in the game, or be removed for another player to take the mound (or position) the following inning.

Answer 4

The American League uses the DH, the National League does not (with the exception of interleague games in an A.L. park).

A designated hitter is a guy who hits in the lineup in place of the pitcher, and only the pitcher. When a designated hitter is used, the pitcher can remain in the game.

A pinch hitter can hit in place of any player in the lineup. However, the player he replaces does have to come out of the game.

Interestingly, the idea of the DH came up long before the current incarnation that began in 1973, although it was called something slightly different. It was voted on and accepted--by the National League. When the A.L. voted, they rejected the idea. When that happened the N.L. decided not to implement it after all because they didn't want the two leagues to have different rules.

Answer 5

The American League uses a designated hitter (DH), which is a player that bats for the pitcher, so the pitcher can focus on pitching instead of batting.
The Natinal League does not use a designated hitter, so the pitcher must hit in the lineup in addition to pitching.

A pinch hitter is a player who comes in for one at-bat to hit. They normally bat in place of a pitcher when the pitchers' night is over.

Answer 6

No, I doubt baseball will ever change it. Baseball is the king of nonsensical rules, no other sport would ever have different rules for different halves of the league. And baseball clings to its stupidity like a 2 year old with a lollipop. No, I don't like the DH rule. It's a retarded rule that allows miserable fielders to get away with only learning half of the game. Why learn how to field and play defense when you can just be a DH? People like David Ortiz are talked about as if they had Hall of Fame credentials even though Ortiz can't even play baseball ( just swing a bat). Not to mention, the DH doesn't even do what it was intended to do. The American league doesn't even score a statistically significant amount of runs more than the NL, proving that the DH does not in fact promote more run scoring.

Answer 7

Only the american league uses a DH. A pinch hitter is someone who comes to into hit for someone else.

Answer 8

During interleague play they do. Designated hitter, hits for the pitcher.

Answer 9

Yes, but the NL only employs the DH in AL-home interleague games.

Answer 10

no AL uses DH an NL doesnt whitch means NL pitchers have 2 bat