# Dh rule **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 29, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959 "2010-06-29T18:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![coooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coooch)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/1 "2010-06-29T18:16:36Z")
Question: Major league dh rule on the dh rule here is a situation that needs clearing up. Dh is batting in the 8th spot in the line-up for the pitcher the starting pitcher is removed so now the dh is still batting for the relief pitcher. Now in the bottom of 9th inning the number nine hitter is coming up to bat but instead the coach wants the pitcher to bat for the ninth hitter is this legal. In the rule book it say the pitcher can only pinch hit for the dh then in another part of the rule if the dh goes in defensively the pitcher can bat for anyone. Help!!! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/2 "2010-06-29T18:54:10Z")
Moving to The Game Room from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![High\_Heat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@High\_Heat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Heat)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/3 "2010-06-29T19:12:32Z")
To better understand think of the DH and pitcher as simple positions as you would shortstop or left field. Generally speaking in the world of DHing when a pitching substitution is made the substitution is pitcher for pitcher = continue with DH. Say your 1st basemen gets injured and you want your DH to play 1st. DH moves to 1st base on the field but retains his batting position. The pitcher spot is now where the 1st baseman’s spot was. The pitcher cannot bat for just anyone. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/4 "2010-06-29T19:46:46Z")
The main reason for that rule was that (former) Oriole manager Earl Weaver played various games with the DH slot, like penciling in a off-day pitcher into the lineup so that he could pinch-hit either of his platoon DH’s when the slot actually came up (the original “DH” would never have actually batted). MLB then passed a series of rules forbidding such shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![coooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coooch)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/5 "2010-07-01T20:47:30Z")
> [@coooch](#): > > Question: Major league dh rule > on the dh rule here is a situation that needs clearing up. Dh is batting in the 8th spot in the line-up for the pitcher the starting pitcher is removed so now the dh is still batting for the relief pitcher. Now in the bottom of 9th inning the number nine hitter is coming up to bat but instead the coach wants the pitcher to bat for the ninth hitter is this legal. In the rule book it say the pitcher can only pinch hit for the dh then in another part of the rule if the dh goes in defensively the pitcher can bat for anyone. Help!!! But is this legal unless the coach say the dh is entering the game next inning and the pitcher is batting for that nineth player. please simplify. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/6 "2010-07-02T02:50:43Z")
> [@coooch](#): > > ``` > on the dh rule here is a situation that needs clearing up. Dh is batting in the 8th spot in the line-up for the pitcher the starting pitcher is removed so now the dh is still batting for the relief pitcher. Now in the bottom of 9th inning the number nine hitter is coming up to bat but instead the coach wants the pitcher to bat for the ninth hitter is this legal. > > ``` No, this is not legal. > [@coooch](#): > > In the rule book it say the pitcher can only pinch hit for the dh . . . That’s correct. > [@coooch](#): > > . . . then in another part of the rule if the dh goes in defensively the pitcher can bat for anyone. No, you read the rule incorrectly. The rule says: > [@](#): > > The DH 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 must then designate their spots in the batting order. Keep in mind that the DH can only assume a defensive position while your team is in the field. You can’t do it while you’re at bat. You can’t send your pitcher up in place of the first baseman, and say, “Next inning my DH will play first base.” _When your team takes the field_, you can say, “My DH is now playing first base. Therefore, my pitcher will assume my former first baseman’s spot in the batting order, _when we come to bat_.” > [@John DiFool](#): > > The main reason for that rule was that (former) Oriole manager Earl Weaver played various games with the DH slot, like penciling in a off-day pitcher into the lineup so that he could pinch-hit either of his platoon DH’s when the slot actually came up (the original “DH” would never have actually batted). MLB then passed a series of rules forbidding such shenanigans. The rule locking the DH into the batting order has been in place since the DH was adopted in 1973. Weaver was only responsible for the relatively trivial change that the DH on the lineup card must bat at least once, barring injury or a pitching change by the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![coooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coooch)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dh-rule/544959/7 "2010-07-06T18:30:23Z")
> [@freddy the pig](#): > > no, this is not legal. That’s correct.no, you read the rule incorrectly. The rule says: Keep in mind that the dh can only assume a defensive position while your team is in the field. You can’t do it while you’re at bat. You can’t send your pitcher up in place of the first baseman, and say, “next inning my dh will play first base.” _when your team takes the field_, you can say, “my dh is now playing first base. Therefore, my pitcher will assume my former first baseman’s spot in the batting order, _when we come to bat_.” the rule locking the dh into the batting order has been in place since the dh was adopted in 1973. Weaver was only responsible for the relatively trivial change that the dh on the lineup card must bat at least once, barring injury or a pitching change by the opposition. thanks that clears it up!!