NFHS Rules, Designated Hitter Rule

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I am interested in how this situation should be handled in a game being played using NFHS Baseball Rules.

Home Team has ten (10) players. Team H has the DH batter for the player in the third (3rd) spot in the batting order. The player in the sixth (6th) spot of the batting order is injured in the top of the second (2nd) inning and can not continue to play.

Is this a situation where the player who is the DH enters the game to play defense and thereby takes a spot in the batting order other that the third spot?

Ladies and gentlemen, answers please.

MTD, Sr.

[Ump153]

The DH is locked into the 3rd spot.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Ump153

The DH is locked into the 3rd spot.

Ump153:

Therefore, you are saying move the player for whom the DH was batting into the sixth (6th) spot in the batting order.

MTD, Sr.

[UmpJM]

MTD, Sr.,

Both the DH and the player for whom he is batting are locked into the same spot in the batting order.

In your sitch, the HT has no eligible substitute for the injured player and must continue with 8. An out is recorded each time the injured player's "slot" comes to bat.

The only "exception" to this is if the player is injured during an at bat in which he reaches base safely. Then, if there are no eligible subs available, the player with the "last batted out" may pinch run for the injured player.

JM

[mbyron]

JM is correct.

A word of further explanation. People get confused about the DH because they think of him as a kind of offensive substitute. That's not right: the DH and the defensive player for whom he bats are both locked into a spot in the lineup, and neither is an eligible substitute.

"A substitute is a player who is eligible to replace another player already in the lineup." (2-36) This definition implies that anyone listed in the lineup is NOT an eligible substitute, and thus may NOT bat in another spot in the order.

FED permits a team to continue with 8 in the lineup when an eligible substitute is not available, as JM points out. That said, I'm fairly confident that around here everyone would expect the umpires to bend the rules a little and allow the DH to bat in the spot vacated by the injured player. You know, "it's for the kids, blue," "aw, let 'em play, blue..." etc. etc.

[dash_riprock]

MTD,

Another way of putting it -- The DH and the player for whom he was batting cannot be in the lineup at the same time.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

MTD,

Another way of putting it -- The DH and the player for whom he was batting cannot be in the lineup at the same time.

Dash, you're undercutting my point: they MUST be in the lineup at the same time, and in the same spot, too, or else one's a sub and NOT a DH.

By 'lineup' I mean what umpires mean, not what players mean. Perhaps that's another source of confusion.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Dash, you're undercutting my point: they MUST be in the lineup at the same time, and in the same spot, too, or else one's a sub and NOT a DH.

By 'lineup' I mean what umpires mean, not what players mean. Perhaps that's another source of confusion.

I wasn't undercutting your point, I was supporting it. Maybe you're confusing lineup (batting order) with lineup card.

[David B]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Dash, you're undercutting my point: they MUST be in the lineup at the same time, and in the same spot, too, or else one's a sub and NOT a DH.

By 'lineup' I mean what umpires mean, not what players mean. Perhaps that's another source of confusion.

I agree this is the best way to look at it. The DH is a player in the game also, just as the other nine. That's why it is best written in below the player who he is batting for and not at the bottom of the lineup card like so many coaches want to do .

DH is in the #3 spot, he stays there the rest of the game. (if he is in the game) Now he is a substitute and can be subbed for and return once just as any other player, but that's another whole situation.

Thanks
David

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

I wasn't undercutting your point, I was supporting it. Maybe you're confusing lineup (batting order) with lineup card.

OK, I appreciate the support. I don't think I'm confused: the lineup is what is written on the lineup card.

The batting order is, as you point out, the lineup: a DH and the player he's batting for are both in the batting order (or 3-1-4 would not say, "A designated hitter and the player for whom he is batting are locked into the batting order."), even though just one of them bats.

So, whether we call it the 'lineup' or the 'batting order', the DH and the player for whom he bats MUST be in it at the same time.

[dash_riprock]

Never mind. And I know neither of us is confused.

[DG]

Originally Posted by mbyron

That said, I'm fairly confident that around here everyone would expect the umpires to bend the rules a little and allow the DH to bat in the spot vacated by the injured player. You know, "it's for the kids, blue," "aw, let 'em play, blue..." etc. etc.

Around here no one would expect the umpire to bend the rules. However, I did work a game this year where one team only had 9 to start, one got injured in the first inning. The opposing coach said he would prefer not to have an out called everytime that position came to bat, and we allowed that. Two private schools playing with no conference championship at stake.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Ump153:

Therefore, you are saying move the player for whom the DH was batting into the sixth (6th) spot in the batting order.

MTD, Sr.

Why would you assume such a thing?

No. The two are locked together. Neither one can bat in another spot in the lineup.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by DG

Around here no one would expect the umpire to bend the rules. However, I did work a game this year where one team only had 9 to start, one got injured in the first inning. The opposing coach said he would prefer not to have an out called everytime that position came to bat, and we allowed that. Two private schools playing with no conference championship at stake.

DG,

Good call.

JM

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by DG

Around here no one would expect the umpire to bend the rules. However, I did work a game this year where one team only had 9 to start, one got injured in the first inning. The opposing coach said he would prefer not to have an out called everytime that position came to bat, and we allowed that. Two private schools playing with no conference championship at stake.

I don't get it. You say that where you live no one would expect the rules to be bent. Then you tell a story about a time when the team asked you to bend the rules....