[UmpJM]

archangel,

As others have already told you, this is not "FED legal".

I'm trying to figure out why the coach might want to do this.

It's certainly legal for the pitcher to bat under FED rules.

What is NOT legal is, say after 4 or 5 innings, the coach now wants to bring in a new pitcher, but keep the previous pitcher in the batting lineup, and the new pitcher will not bat.

Nor would it be legal if the pitcher is "in the zone" but having a "rough day" at the plate, and the coach wants to keep him pitching, but wants to bring in a new guy to bat for him.

If there are not 10 guys in the lineup presented to the PU at the plate conference (one of whom does not bat), then they are stuck with nine (or, conceivably 8) for the remainder of the game. And under FED rules, the "pitcher" is not relevant. He is no different from any other defensive player in the context of this rule.

JM