Designated Hitter

Designated Hitter ( DH) designated in baseball and softball is a tenth player, which is used in a game only on the attack; one of the nine defensive player then takes it in the offensive not used. In baseball beats and runs of the DH only instead of the pitcher ( pitcher ), while softball, however, can a team use a DH for any defensive player.

The rule was introduced in the 1960s in some leagues because most pitchers at bat are pretty bad, because they need to focus on the litter training. We thus hoped to have higher average scores and less " strikeouts ". At the same time a strategic element of the game is lost. A pitcher who has to beat itself, raises the experience even more fair; because if he would illegally and intentionally throw about a batsman the ball against the body, the same when he comes to the strike threatened him so by the opposing pitcher. The fans are so divided on this rule - some people think that they improved the baseball, others that they destroyed the traditional baseball.

Basically, there is no requirement to use a designated hitter, it is always allowed to do without it.

The two American Major Leagues differ with respect to the Designated Hitter rule. While in the American League since 1973 playing with this rule, there is this not in the National League. In games between two teams from leagues that regulate this differently, the rule of the respective home team applies. Playing an American League team away to a team in the National League (including during the World Series ), the American League team has its designated hitter either sacrifice ( use most as a pinch hitter ), or on a regular Field Position. In the World Series in 2013, for example, offered the American League Boston Red Sox representatives on the Away games against the St. Louis Cardinals ( National League) their designated hitter David Ortiz as first baseman on. He filled his unusual defensive duties without fault and won the World Series MVP Award. Since apparently the respective fans mostly agree in both leagues subject to the current rule, this difference will remain well preserved for the foreseeable future.

In the German league is played with a designated hitter, as well as in international matches, in almost all national leagues outside the U.S. and also in the American school and college leagues, and most of the professional minor leagues. Only minor league teams in the stronger performance classes AAA and AA play then no DH, when at a meeting both teams a team from the National League are connected. In American amateur leagues with recreational character is partly played in part without DH.

In softball, the DH in 2004 by the Designated Player ( DP) has been replaced. With this rule, some restrictions that applied to the DH were abolished.

Swell

Infield: Pitcher ( 1 / P ) | Catcher ( 2 / C ) | First Baseman (3 / 1B ) | Second Baseman (4 / 2B ) | Third Baseman (5 / 3B ) | Shortstop (6 / SS)

Outfield: Left fielder (7 / LF) | center fielder (8 / CF) | Right Fielder (9 / RF)

Special: Designated hitter (DH ) | Pinch Hitter (PH ) | Pinch Runner ( PR)

  • Baseball
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