New DH question

Factual Questions
1

Sorry to start a new thread, but the other one has gotten awfully convoluted and hijacked.

My question is this. In a baseball game a defensive squad can exchange the right fielder with the left fielder, or the 3rd baseman with the catcher, etc. The only catch being that the two players must maintain the same spot in the batting order. Now consider the AL, can a DH, mid-game, trade positions with the first baseman (ala Big Mac for Will Clark, or Frank Thomas for Konerko) as long as both players keep their spots in the batting order? It seems to me that the DH would be treated no differently than any other defensive postion in that regard, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen this happen, so I presume it must be illegal. Whats the dope?

2

I don’t know if it is legal or not, but there is a perfectly good explanation for it not happening.

The DH is a good hitter. Usually, that’s all he is. If he could play another position well, then he would play that position normally, and not the DH. When another player who normally plays said position (first base) is available to sub in, why switch with the DH?

3

No can do.

  1. A player currently at a defensive position cannot become a DH.

  2. If the DH moves to a defensive position, the team loses the use of the DH for the rest of the game.

Hypothetical lineup:

  1. Adams CF

  2. Baker 2B

  3. Charles 1B

  4. Douglas RF

  5. Edward LF

  6. Frank DH

  7. Grey 3B

  8. Hamilton SS

  9. Irving C

    Jones P.

Now, suppose the manager wants Frank to move to the field and play LF. The new lineup would then (according to the rules) be as follows:

  1. Adams CF
  2. Baker 2B
  3. Charles 1B
  4. Douglas RF
    5. Jones P
    6. Frank LF
  5. Grey 3B
  6. Hamilton SS
  7. Irving C

The pitcher moves to bat in the spot of the replaced player and the team cannot have a DH for the remainder of the game.

Zev Steinhardt

4

Boy, Omniscient, you’re not very omniscient if you didn’t know the answer to that… :smiley:

:: ducks for cover ::

Zev Steinhardt

5

There was an Indians / Blue Jays game a couple years ago where the Indians forfeited the use of the DH for the game. They had two guys named Ramirez and one was DH and one was RF that day. But they got it mixed up, and the DH took the field. This is a no-no. So their pitcher had to bat that day.