A pinch hitter is a batsman who bats in place of another batter. A pinch hitter enters the game only when the batter whose turn he is taking is scheduled to bat. At that point, he is "introduced into the game," and the batter he replaced is out for good. When the pinch hitter reaches base, he replaces the now-out batter.
There are two types of pinch hitters: replacement pinch hitters and defensive replacements. A replacement pinch hitter comes into the game when the original batting order batter becomes disabled or loses his bat (i.e., takes a pitch). A defensive replacement is used when a player who has been substituted for an injured teammate returns to the field but isn't able to continue playing because he's also injured. In this case, a fresh player is needed to fill the vacancy created by the injured player leaving the game.
In addition to replacing a batter who has reached base or was forced out due to injury, a pinch hitter may be used as a decoy during police raids or other investigations. The idea is that if officers focus their attention on the pinch hitter, the real hit man or woman will get away. This can be useful for players who do not want their actual role in a crime to come to light.
Pinch hitting is common in baseball, basketball, and football.
A pinch hitter is a substitute batter in baseball. Batters can be replaced at any moment the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may employ any player who has not yet joined the game as a substitution. The pinch hitter takes the place of the batter he replaces in the batting order. If necessary, the pitcher can be substituted for a pinch-runner.
To come into the game as a pinch hitter, a player needs to have his name called by the manager during any time through the pitching rotation. If his team is behind or if there is no one on base, the manager will want to see some hustle from the player going to the plate. If the player fails to make a good impression, then he won't get another chance until later in the game. It's best not to embarrass yourself!
The manager calls out the pinch hitter by name and number. If needed, the catcher can tell the pitcher who is coming up. When the pitcher delivers the ball, the batter takes it standing up. He cannot use his arm while taking the pitch.
If the pinch hitter reaches base, then he has successfully replaced the pitcher's turn at bat. If he does not reach base, then his turn will come up again when their team's next opportunity comes around. This process continues until someone gets a hit or makes it onto base safely, at which point they are removed from the game.
A pinch hitter is used when there is no room on the roster for every player who is available to bat, or when a player needs to give his team a boost with some extra at-bats.
There are several ways that a pinch hitter can come into the game. The most common way is if the pitcher gets hurt and the manager wants to bring in a new pitcher. He can also ask any player on the roster to pinch hit if there is an empty spot on the field. Finally, if the player being pinch hit has been playing well and the manager wants to continue using him, he may just put him back in the game after the pinch hitter comes up.
In order for a pinch hitter to be used, a player must first be summoned from the bench. Then, before each inning, the umpire will call "Pinch Hit" and then the name of the player being pinch hit. At this point, the player being pinch hit can approach the plate while the manager makes the substitution. Once the pinch hitter reaches base, the manager will tell the umpire who is replacing the original player and the umpire will signal that player out.
Pinch hitters are utilized primarily to replace a bad hitter (usually the pitcher, though a weak-hitting defensive specialist can also be a target) or to achieve a platoon advantage. A manager may send a pinch hitter to perform a specific play, like as a sacrifice bunt, in some cases. However, these are usually not counted as official plays because the batter cannot be replaced after entering the game. A pinch hitter can also be used as a defensive replacement if another player is unable to cover one of the bases.
There is no limit to how many times a pinch hitter can come into the game. However, most managers will only use their best pinch hitters early in the game when there are few injuries or ejections and then switch them out for younger players who may have stronger arms or better bats later in the game when needed.
In addition to replacing a pitcher, a second pinch hitter often replaces a leadoff man who has been lifted for a pinch runner. If the leadoff man gets a hit, the coach will often signal this to the manager by raising his hand above his head. The manager will then decide whether to continue using both pinch hitters or change things up by replacing one of them with another player.
A third pinch hitter is used primarily as a defensive replacement but can also spell someone out if they get hurt or ejected. A fourth pinch hitter is rarely used except in special situations such as during tie games in postseason baseball.
Pinch hitters are frequently employed to replace a starting player due to injury or when the pinch hitter is deemed to have a higher probability of reaching base or assisting other runners in scoring. If a pinch hitter bats for the DH, the new pinch hitter remains in the game as a DH and is not allowed to play in the field. If the pinch hitter is a pitcher, he or she replaces the pitcher who has been summoned to handle an offensive threat.
A pinch-hitting role is usually assigned to a player who can hit from the batting order's #3 spot on down. However, some teams will occasionally use a designated hitter to pinch hit for a player coming off the bench.
While most players view themselves as being replaced by a pinch hitter, many feel that they are being taken out of the game. This is especially true for pitchers who often come from strong pitching staffs and are used as relievers in some cases. A pinch hitter's ability to be inserted into any type of situation, including late in games or during extra innings, can give their clubs a advantage over opponents who cannot employ such tactics.
There are two types of pinch hits: situational and strategic. A situational pinch hit occurs when a player who is not normally expected to get a bat on the ball is brought in to replace another player who has been injured or benched. An example would be if the regular second baseman gets hurt and the team needs someone to fill in at short stop.
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