pinch runners in baseball

[Kenazo]

Ok, I'm canadian so baseball isn't my game, but..
So, why don't baseball teams have former 100m dash olympians as pinch runners? They can sit in the dugout the entire time and just come out to steal bases when needed. Also, what are the rules surrounding the pinch runner? Pinch hitters take the place of whatever batter they replace, including their place on the field, right? (though I'm assuming they're often replaced by yet another fielder), so does the pinch runner usurp the spot of the batter he's running for?

EDIT:
Ok, I found the answer to the "Can the replaced player return to the game" question, and the answer was no.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I believe a runner has to be injured and can't continue the game in order for a pinch runner to be sent in.

I could be wrong, though.

 

[Anubis]

your wring happypuppy

its like makeing a sub, you put in a pinch runner, the other player comes out and is done and the runner takes his place in the field as well sometimes

 

[PoPPeR]

because pinch runners are used very rarely. It would be an incredible waste of a roster spot to have one strictly for an olympian. Not to mention he wouldn't know jack about reading pitchers. It takes more then speed to steal bases.

 

[PTCvette]

Ditto what popper said... Good base stealing is just as much of an art as hitting or anything else. And yes, the pinch runner would replace the person they come in for completely (in the field, batting, etc) unless you substituted for them when your team came back to the field, or if they hit all the way around the batting order, when the pinch runner's spot in the lineup came up.

Jeff

 

[Anubis]

its also only 90 feet between bases a sprinter wouldent even be at full speed when he got there

 

[aplefka]

Not to mention you don't get a starting block. I was one of the fastest runners in my class and yet I still wasn't/am not able to get to first in a time relative to my 100 time.

 

[PoPPeR]

oh yeah, another good point inspired by PTC's post. Unless it was a do or die situation, then you would just have to replace the pinch runner right after he was used, because he would have to play the field as well. So basically, you really need to be a baseball player in order to be on the roster heh.

 

[PoPPeR]

one more thing. Remember what's his face was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 80's... one of the olympic sprinters (was it Carl lewis or something?). They figured, he's so fast, just run him straight and hope he catches it. It didn't really work out though