NPB once celebrated pinch-hit specialists as clutch heroes. Players like Takai Yasuhiro and Hiyama Shinjiro built careers around a single at-bat. Today, the pure pinch-hitter has all but vanished, replaced by utility players and bullpen-heavy rosters.
The art of pinch-hitting in NPB: Yasuhiro Takai's record 227 pinch hits, the tactical differences created by the DH rule, and the mental fortitude required for one at-bat.
Examining the pinch hitting trump card - tactical analysis of pinch hitting in npb in depth, covering the unique role of pinch hitting through the psychology..