In baseball the fourth man in the batting order is designated the clean-up hitter. Baseball managers place hitters ahead of the clean-up man who are most likely to reach base, so that the fourth batter can "clean" the bases by driving these baserunners home to score runs. The cleanup hitter has the advantage, in the first time through the order, of never batting with two outs and the bases empty. That is, if anyone gets on base and does not get out, the cleanup hitter will bat with men on base in the first inning. If nobody gets on base, the cleanup hitter will have a chance to start a rally in the second inning by being the first batter, with zero outs.
Perhaps the most well-known "clean-up hitter" of all-time was Lou Gehrig, who was preceded in the New York Yankee lineup by several fine hitters including the immortal Babe Ruth. Gehrig took advantage of this position to lead the league in Runs Batted In five times and hit 23 grand slams over his career.
Other notable batters who have batted cleanup regularly include:
Baseball sources said the Mariners have asked Delgado, the first baseman and cleanuphitter for the Toronto Blue Jays for the better part of a decade, if he would be willing to bat third in Seattle.
Seattle could still use Delgado as the cleanuphitter if the Mariners are unable to land Sexson or Glaus.
If they could make those additions of proven home run hitters in the middle of the lineup, the Mariners would be able to compete with the rest of the power brokers in the American League West.
Feeds |
Contact