Baseball
In Baseball, a Pinch hitter is a common term for a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted for at any time the ball is dead; the manager may use any player not yet in the game as a substitute. Pinch hitters are often used to replace a starting player when a substitute is thought to have a better chance of reaching base or helping other runners to score.
In the National League of North America's Major League Baseball, the pitcher is often pinch hit for in the middle or late innings because pitchers are often poor hitters. Nearly all other leagues use the designated hitter rule; thus, pitchers seldom bat, removing one situation where a pinch hitter may be desired.
Notable players who have batted as a pinch hitters specialists in their careers include:
See also
Cricket
In Cricket, a Pinch hitter is the usual word for a batsman promoted up the batting order in order to score quick runs. As scoring runs quickly makes a batsman more likely to get out, it is generally considered unwise for a top-order batsman to attempt this. Therefore, on the fall of a wicket, a lower-order batsman (such as a bowler) is sometimes promoted. There is less importance placed on his wicket, so he can play with more freedom. This is an important tactic in one-day international cricket, with its occurrence in Test cricket far less regular.
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