Editing Cleanup hitter (section)

== Theory ==
The thinking behind the use of the cleanup hitter is that at least one of the batters before him will reach [[Baseball|base]] somehow, usually via a [[Base on balls|walk]] or a [[Hit (baseball)|base hit]]. Traditionally, the [[Leadoff hitter|lead off hitter]], the number one spot in the batting order, has good foot speed, [[Glossary of baseball (P)|plate discipline]], and a high [[on-base percentage]]. The second batter is usually a [[contact hitter]], meaning he is able to consistently make contact with the ball and put it in play to move base runners forward and into [[scoring position]]. The first or second batter might [[bunt (baseball)|bunt]] his way on base as they both will be speedy runners. The third batter is usually the best batter, the hitter with the highest batting average. He has the role of scoring runs himself, but his job comes down to getting on base for the cleanup hitter to have a turn to bat in the same inning. The cleanup hitter coming up to hit—if he has runners on base—has the opportunity to produce runs by getting a base hit or a [[home run]]. The third and fourth batters tend to be interchangeable in the batting order. The fifth batter in the lineup also has the job of batting in runs, in effect a backup for the cleanup hitter. He shares multiple traits with the cleanup hitter and therefore can compete for the cleanup hitter's spot in the batting order. Batters six to nine typically descend in batting skill level, meaning that the ninth batter is often the least effective batter in the lineup.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball (Playing the Percentages in Baseball)|last=Tango Dolphin Lichtman|first=Tom M Andrew E Mitchel G|publisher=Createspace Independent|year=2014|isbn=9781494260170|pages=398 pages}}</ref>