Editing Baseball (section)

== Personnel ==
{{see also|Baseball positions}}

=== Players ===
{{Category see also|Category:Baseball players|Lists of baseball players}}

The number of players on a baseball roster, or ''squad'', varies by [[Baseball league|league]] and by the level of organized play. A [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) team has a roster of 26 players with specific roles. A typical roster features the following players:<ref>See, e.g., {{cite web|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090404&content_id=4127882&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|title=Nationals Finalize 25-Man Roster|date=April 4, 2009|access-date=April 21, 2009|publisher=Washington Nationals/Major League Baseball|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714104000/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090404&content_id=4127882&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}{{update inline|date=April 2023}}</ref>
* Eight [[position player]]s: the [[catcher]], four [[infielder]]s, and three [[outfielder]]s—all of whom play on a regular basis
* Five [[starting pitcher]]s who constitute the team's [[Pitch (baseball)|pitching]] rotation or starting rotation
* Seven [[relief pitcher]]s, including one [[closer (baseball)|closer]], who constitute the team's [[bullpen]] (named for the off-field area where pitchers warm up)
* One backup, or substitute, catcher
* Five backup infielders and backup outfielders, or players who can play multiple positions, known as [[utility player]]s.

Most baseball leagues worldwide have the DH rule, including MLB, [[Pacific League|Japan's Pacific League]], and Caribbean professional leagues, along with major American amateur organizations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Alexander|first=Charles C.|title=Our Game: An American Baseball History|publisher=Macmillan|year=1991|page=[https://archive.org/details/ourgameamerican000alex/page/290 290]|isbn=9780805015942|url=https://archive.org/details/ourgameamerican000alex/page/290}}</ref> The [[Central League]] in [[Japan]] does not have the rule and high-level minor league clubs connected to National League teams are not required to field a DH.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ringolsby|first=Tracy|title=Tide is turning toward a universal DH|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=January 20, 2016|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/national-league-could-add-dh-before-long/c-162404308|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> In leagues that apply the designated hitter rule, a typical team has nine offensive regulars (including the DH), five starting pitchers,<ref>{{cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Dan|title=Designated Hitters and the Economics of Baseball|publisher=[[Grantland]]|date=July 12, 2011|url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/designated-hitters-and-the-economics-of-baseball/|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> seven or eight relievers, a backup catcher, and two or three other reserve players.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dunn|first=Jay|title=Jay Dunn: It's Time For MLB Teams to Consider Grooming Two-Way Players|work=[[The Trentonian]]|date=June 21, 2017|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20170621/SPORTS/170629946|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=Steven|title=It Is Time for Baseball to Fight Back Against Big Bullpen|publisher=[[VICE Media]]|date=April 26, 2016|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/it-is-time-for-baseball-to-fight-back-against-big-bullpen/|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref>

=== Managers and coaches ===
The [[manager (baseball)|manager]], or head coach, oversees the team's major strategic decisions, such as establishing the starting rotation, setting the lineup, or batting order, before each game, and making substitutions during games—in particular, bringing in relief pitchers. Managers are typically assisted by two or more [[coach (baseball)|coaches]]; they may have specialized responsibilities, such as working with players on hitting, fielding, pitching, or strength and conditioning. At most levels of organized play, two coaches are stationed on the field when the team is at bat: the first base coach and third base coach, who occupy designated coaches' boxes, just outside the foul lines. These coaches assist in the direction of baserunners, when the ball is in play, and relay tactical signals from the manager to batters and runners, during pauses in play.<ref>Walfoort, Cleon, "Most 'Signs' Given by Coaches Are Merely Camouflage", ''[[Baseball Digest]]'', December 1960 – January 1961, pp. 47–49.</ref> In contrast to many other team sports, baseball managers and coaches generally wear their team's uniforms; coaches must be in uniform to be allowed on the field to confer with players during a game.<ref>"The Fans Speak Out" [''Baseball Digest'' staff], ''Baseball Digest'', August 1999, pp. 9–10; {{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/03_game_preliminaries.pdf|title=Official Rules/3.00—Game Preliminaries (Rule 3.15)|access-date=April 27, 2009|publisher=Major League Baseball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520205621/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/03_game_preliminaries.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Umpires ===
Any baseball game involves one or more [[Umpire (baseball)|umpires]], who make rulings on the outcome of each play. At a minimum, one umpire will stand behind the catcher, to have a good view of the strike zone, and call balls and strikes. Additional umpires may be stationed near the other bases, thus making it easier to judge plays such as attempted force outs and tag outs. In MLB, four umpires are used for each game, one near each base. In the playoffs, six umpires are used: one at each base and two in the outfield along the foul lines.<ref>Zoss (2004), p. 293; {{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/09_the_umpire.pdf|title=Official Rules/9.00—The Umpire|access-date=February 18, 2009|publisher=Major League Baseball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224215915/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/09_the_umpire.pdf|archive-date=February 24, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>