Is there a definite rotation of batters in baseball?

Answer 1

This question is impossible to answer definitively until you clarify what you mean by "definite;" however, I will explain the rules of the lineup as best I can, and I hope this will satisfy your question.

The rotation of batters in Baseball is referred to as a lineup. The lineup consists of the first 9 players on each team to play the game, and it is set before each game commences. At the beginning of the game, each manager will convene at home plate with all four of the umpires. The managers will exchange cards that contain the lineups for their respective teams for that game, and the umpire will note these lineups on his official scorecard. Once the lineups are exchanged then they can no longer be altered unless by substitution; each batter must continue to bat in his designated spot of the lineup unless replaced by another player that is not already in the lineup. The lineup only applies to the batting order; while it will list which player is playing which position, those designations can be changed... the batting order cannot.

Here's an example of a linuep:

1. Rollins - SS

2. Pierre - LF

3. Utley - 2B

4. Howard - 1B

5. Mayberry - CF

6. Brown - RF

7. Frandsen - 3B

8. Kratz - C

9. Lee - P

Let's say Pierre gets injured in the 4th inning, and Laynce Nix replaces him, Nix will now have to bat in the #2 spot of the lineup. Perhaps the manager decides that he'd rather have Brown take over in LF, and put Nix in RF, he can do this; however, Nix will still have to bat 2nd, and Brown will still have to bat 6th, as the positions can be changed, but not the batting order.

The Double Switch: working with the original lineup from above, let's say it's the 8th inning. Lee, the pitcher, is due up first, and he's thrown enough pitches that he won't be returning to pitch the 9th inning. Since there's no use in having a pitcher bat in this situation, you would use a pinch-hitter. So, Carlos Ruiz (a catcher) pinch-hits for Lee in the #9 spot and, after batting, will need to be replaced with a new pitcher. However, you have decided you would rather have Ruiz catching in the 9th, so you'd like to replace Kratz with Ruiz. This is called a double-switch. Ruiz would then remain in the game as catcher, and will still bat in the #9 spot of the lineup; Kratz would be replaced by a new pitcher, who would be required to bat in the #8 spot, should you get that far.

After that game is completed, the manager is free to rearrange his lineup as he see's fit for the next game. He is not required to use the same lineup every game, but once he has submitted a lineup card at the start of any game, he is required to keep that lineup until game's end. ~badlukk13