The New York Post had an article this week on the designated hitter.
As you know, the National League is now using them in 2020 and could permanently use them starting next season.
Your thoughts on this?
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13 comments:
Many baseball "purists" will vilify me here but the "strategy" of whether or not to take out a pitcher for a pinch hitter is over-rated. The idea of watching a pitcher going o for 2 or 3 or whatever is not appealing for me. The only league in the WORLD that doesn't use a DH is the National League of Major League Baseball. The National League rules create a sub-par performance because starting pitchers, who are presumably better than middle relievers, are often removed for pinch hitters who themselves aren't starters. Also, the pitchers get a break when pitching to other pitchers in the line up rather than a designated hitter who is clearly better with the bat than the pitcher. Yes, I support use of the DH in the National League.
The rumor is that the players are the ones who want the DH more so than the owners. For the players it is another full time paying/playing position. For the owners, it's another name to add to the payroll list. Yes, the scores should be higher given the extra offense, but you will get more innings out of the pitchers as well. While most people feel change is not a good thing, we've embraced many over the years including video replays, relief pitchers as "openers" and the like. The DH arrived in the AL to much consternation, but long time successes like Edgar Martinez turned doubters into fans. I think it's long overdue to make the NL work the same way as other leagues.
I am old school and still think Reagan is President.
I know I am quickly becoming a minority of one but I would can the DH.
I think DH is a great thing. Let's say a guy is a little sore - put him in the field, he gets injured...but if he DHs, his body gets a break. A Mike Piazza would have been hugely helped being able to DH and catch.
Also, the game has professional hitters and professional pitchers. Very few who are one of those two can do the other part.
If baseball were starting over again from scratch, it would have a DH. The idea of a non-hitter hitting would be deemed absurd.
Also, strong hitters' careers will be lengthened. Mickey Mantle could have used a DH (and AA, too, I imagine).
I am hugely looking forward to Cespedes, Cano, Smith and/or JDD DH, and not watch Michael Wacha strike out.
Baseball is a strategy sport, not an offensive sport. If you want scoring, watch the NBA. I like the strategy of when to switch pitchers, how many batters until the pitcher's spot in the line-up comes up, and when to double switch or let the pitcher bat.
As far as more offense, the American League score a total of 251 more runs in 2019 then the National League scored. That amounts to 16.73 more runs per team, or 1 run every 10 games. To me, that is not worth losing the in game decisions.
The other argument that the player's union uses is that it adds a more expensive veteran to the roster, but the American League and the National League payrolls are very similar.
The last point that is made is about one pitcher a year who gets hurt batting. Well, more then that get hurt fielding each year, what is the next move, putting a fielder next to the pitcher so he doesn't have to field either, similar to coach pitch baseball for the little kids.
Long overdue, glad to see it.
I'd rather watch Cespedes or J.D. Davis bat instead of the pitcher. Call me crazy.
The strategy thing is sooooo overrated, particularly now with rosters of 13 pitchers and fewer role players on the bench. We aren't seeing good pinch-hitters come to the plate for the most part. Managers will still have to decide when to pull the pitcher, when to stay with him.
People act like "the rules" of baseball came from a burning bush and we carved in stone tablets. It's absurd. Look at the NBA and NFL. Constantly tweaking, revising, experimenting. Times change.
Jimmy
Jimmy
I understand and agree with you. Times change. Sadly, I don't.
Rob, I think 2019’s only slightly higher scoring for the AL with DH is an aberration. That would be something to look at.
I'm with you. I still prefer the strategy employed by NL teams.
Actually I would call anyone who calls himself "anonymous" crazy.
Tom,
The last 4 years
2019 251 runs difference
2018 368 runs difference
2017 304 runs difference
2016 196 runs difference
That is a total of 1,119 runs difference in the last 4 years, with is an average of about 280 runs per year or 18.65 runs difference per team per year.
The only logical outcome of the DH is the eventuality of offensive/defensive baseball.
6 "Batters" (you need six unless you want Designated Runners too...hey why not?) who bat in turn until there are 3 outs, nine times (for some reason that will eventually be forgotten).
8 "Fielders" who get to rest from standing around their designated zones while their Batters are talking their hacks.
A phalanx of pitchers of various specialties: LOOGY's, ROOGY's, Openers, Closers, Balk-move pick-off specialists, etc.
It might even be an interesting pastime, but I hesitate to call it baseball.
I hate the DH. If i wanted to watch baseball with a dh in ny i would have been a yankee fan. and you know actually won something since i was a kid.
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