What is the argument against an NL DH?
- Thread starter Seinfeld
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Purists will argue "strategy."
If you are into strategy, go watch a chess match dickhead. I'm here for 101 mph heaters, 500' taters, $3.00 drafts, $1.00 hotdogs, and pretty girls in tank tops
If you are into strategy, go watch a chess match dickhead. I'm here for 101 mph heaters, 500' taters, $3.00 drafts, $1.00 hotdogs, and pretty girls in tank tops
Strategy and we don’t like to see part time players. Play in the field or sit down. That said, as much as I’d like to see the DH eliminated at every level, that’s just not gonna happen. So the NL needs to get on board with literally all other baseball leagues.
Double switches, needing to have to manage your bench. Makes the game more based on strategy. Like how Maddon sometimes had his reliever play left field for a batter then brought him back in to pitch again. The risk/reward of either pulling your pitcher in a run-scoring opportunity vs letting him bat so he can stay in to pitch. Makes the game less stupid.
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I wouldn't. The DH doesn't remove strategy altogether, it just switches one set of strategies to a different set.
Imagine you've got two on, two out, and the pitcher comes up. It's early in the game so you're not going to pull him. Without a DH, it's basically a free out for whoever's pitching, even though he got himself into a jam. With a DH, he's facing a real hitter who can make him and pay, and will have to strategize a way out of it by throwing the right pitches.
Oh **** boys... Let's go to the game and see if Joe Maddon puts a reliever in to play the outfield in the 7th...
No. People go to see Kris Bryant hit one out onto Waveland.
No. People go to see Kris Bryant hit one out onto Waveland.
I completely get why people like the DH. I am a Braves fan so I mostly watch the NL. I like not having a DH.
What I dont understand is why people are so insistent on forcing a DH on the NL. The "what people want to watch" argument is 17ing stupid because the American League exists. Go watch that.
I don't really feel that strongly about it either way. I'll watch the Braves whether or not they have a DH.
I just think the strategy argument is silly, because baseball is an incredibly strategic game, and the presence of the DH only eliminates a very small percentage of the strategy involved, while also giving more opportunity for other types of strategy, such as figuring out how to get all 9 positions in the batting order out.
Like if someone lives and dies by the double switch, OK, you're not going to like the DH. But to say the American League is devoid of strategy is just a poor grasp of the game.
If you really want to get worked up about MLB eliminating strategy, be mad about the 3 batter limit. Now THAT is a strategy killer.
Agreed. Its not a deal breaker for me either way I will always watch baseball. If we really want to grow and fix the game in my opinion the universal DH is way down the list. The way the MLB blacks out games and makes it difficult to find/share highlights hurts more than anything.
It's a moot argument. 2022 NL will have full time DH. I am glad. The only thing worse than watching an NL utility infielder DHing in the World Series at critical moment, is watching an AL pitcher kill an early rally.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2020/05/22/mlb-designated-hitter-national-league-2020-traditionalists-must-adapt/5235749002/
Good riddance.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2020/05/22/mlb-designated-hitter-national-league-2020-traditionalists-must-adapt/5235749002/
Good riddance.
This is about where I fall. I like the pitchers hitting, but going back about 20 years the only non Cardinals/State baseball games that I watch are playoffs/CWS so I have gotten used to it and enjoy it. Buoyed by sluggers (in relation to other pitchers) such as Adam Wainwright, the cards have always put an added emphasis on starting pitchers getting plenty of BP so it has normally been an edge that we’ve had over most other teams, outside of most of the Braves pitchers years ago, Greinke, Bumgarner, Zambrano, Mike Hampton, and a few others that have slipped my mind. I like to see managers have to make the tough call on whether to go to a PH when you have a cpl runners on in the 5th in a 1-1 game, but I’m probably in the minority and I’m ok with change as long as the little bastards stay off my lawn.
I've been an NL guy my whole life and haven't wanted a DH in the NL but I've changed my tune. Pitchers went 1-60 in the playoffs this last year. I'd rather give the spot to a real hitter. It extends the careers for some really good hitters and it also helps your favorite club take more looks at minor leaguers that may be ready to be pros.
Luis Pollorena. I rest my case.*
Pitchers can hit. They're usually the best athlete on their HS teams. They just stop practicing & they're told it's not a priority. I agree it's not the highest priority for pitchers, but it's literally half the game.
Also, yes all the strategy, double switches, tough decisions to be made, et al mentioned earlier.
I'm not a fan of specialists, either. I'm not old enough to be a purist, but I also don't like the current trend of analytics where ridiculously high K's are supposedly off set by amount of HRs.
I don't hate the shift, & I think the curve (not the Covid one) will flatten when offense adjusts. But, the fact that these "sluggers" refuse to try & beat it by going oppo just to give up the out boggles my mind.
Maybe I am old. Get off my lawn. Rant over.
ETA: In the Braves game the other night there was an unassisted out by 5 at first. They had a shift on & 3rd was playing short RF. He fielded the ball & trotted to first to get the out. How does on score that in the book?
Pitchers can hit. They're usually the best athlete on their HS teams. They just stop practicing & they're told it's not a priority. I agree it's not the highest priority for pitchers, but it's literally half the game.
Also, yes all the strategy, double switches, tough decisions to be made, et al mentioned earlier.
I'm not a fan of specialists, either. I'm not old enough to be a purist, but I also don't like the current trend of analytics where ridiculously high K's are supposedly off set by amount of HRs.
I don't hate the shift, & I think the curve (not the Covid one) will flatten when offense adjusts. But, the fact that these "sluggers" refuse to try & beat it by going oppo just to give up the out boggles my mind.
Maybe I am old. Get off my lawn. Rant over.
ETA: In the Braves game the other night there was an unassisted out by 5 at first. They had a shift on & 3rd was playing short RF. He fielded the ball & trotted to first to get the out. How does on score that in the book?
The one positive og going to the DH is it will give starting pitchers more of an opportunity to remain in the game longer in order to get the W or L as opposed to so many no decisions. With so many starters being pulled bc managers think a game will be won or lost during an AB in the 4-5th inning with runners on with 2 outs and the 9 hole at the plate you seldom see 20 game winners and we will probably never see another 300 game winner. I know the W and L is not the greatest evaluation of the effectiveness and thus value of a starter, not with WHIP, WAR, fielding independent ERA, etc., but I miss the old days of having a horse going out and winning 20. I miss the days having a stud on the mound being pissed off bc he’s getting pulled in the 8th inning. And that may just bc it reminds me of my youth when I truly LOVED baseball and would watch any game that was televised and the way they were played then. Back then screw the “quality start”, a legit top end pitcher felt he was letting his team down if he threw anything short of 7+ innings.
The DH gives the AL an advantage in free agent negotiations. Can sign long term deals with the plan to let the older player finish their career at DH. Doesn’t work out that way very much, but it’s a factor.
I’ve always hated the DH, but it seems watching pitchers hit has become more painful every year.
I’ve always hated the DH, but it seems watching pitchers hit has become more painful every year.
Mustard only for me... It's a well known fact that relish is created by other pickles gherkin off.
Personally the whole extending careers is what turns me off to the dh. Giving a roster spot to someone that can no longer play his position is as absurd as giving away outs at the 9.
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