Designated Hitter: Yea or Nay?

[CochiseCowbell]

I'm in a group text argument about the validity of the DH. Thought I would get the Pack's take.

I personally think it's an abomination.

Though, I do understand how it helps lower levels of baseball that play less games. However, most pitchers at these levels are also good athletes that can hit as well. It's only due to the invention of the DH, that they don't have to hit any longer, & thusly lose the practice & ability.

Glavine was a better hitter than Belliard.

Crash sums it up perfectly:

https://youtu.be/mn5crhTusSA

 

[ronpolk]

I like the DH because it adds the potential for more offense to the game. Just my opinion, but that is more exciting. Pitchers don’t have time to work on hitting because they are working on pitching, as they should be.

But I’d much rather see both leagues either have the DH or don’t.

 

[RocketDawg]

I never have liked it. If you're going to play, go ahead and play offense too. If it's a sure out, so be it. Learn to hit.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I like it the way it is with AL having the DH. It makes them still have some uniqueness.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

It's no coincidence that two years after the DH was implemented, Vietnam and Cambodia was lost to the Communists.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

SUCKS

but they did not have walking and palming in basketball either.

I've adjusted to the designated hitter part, never in the basketball.

 

[Bulldogg31]

If you are in the starting nine you should hit, field, and run your own bases.

 

[Cubswillwinitonedaydawg]

While I don't care for it and think pitchers should hit, the DH has extended the careers of several MLB guys, and some spent many years doing it (and doing it well). Edgar Martinez, Molitor, Big Papi, etc.

 

[patdog]

I hate it. Who says pitchers can't hit?

 

[8dog]

Why does anyone want to see a pitcher hit? Or a team bailed out of an inning be ause a guy hitting .125 is in the lineup? The game is already slow and, in todays entertainment world, boring enough.

college baseball is awesome and pitchers dont hit. Oh and its also 56 games

 

[Go Budaw]

But I’d much rather see both leagues either have the DH or don’t.

^^^This. Having separate rules for different teams within the same overall league makes no sense. What if the NFL said the NFC could kick extra points, but the AFC could only go for two after TD’s?

 

[Cooterpoot]

It’s a gimmick. Maybe they’ll allow courtesy runners soon so we can see stolen bases. Baseball is a homer and strikeout game now. Strategy no longer needed.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I don't like it. However the national league just needs to give in. It is never going away and exists at every level except the NL. You actually have players that have never been to the plate until they get to at least Double A when two NL affiliates play. So it is not even all the time there. The NBA took in the 3 point play from the ABA. It is just time.

 

[Philly Dawg]

The reasons pitchers can't hit started before the DH: (1) as you move up levels of play, pitchers are selected with no consideration of their hitting while hitting gets progressively more difficult and (2) as you move up levels of play, they stop playing positions and get less and less practice hitting. That national league teams do minimal hitting work with the pitchers is an acknowledgment that its a waste of time.

Thus, the question is whether you prefer having a DH or prefer having virtual automatic outs with pitchers being pulled for a pinch hitter.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Damn you I already had the Crash speech copied when I saw the end of your post

 

[CochiseCowbell]

It’s a gimmick. Maybe they’ll allow courtesy runners soon so we can see stolen bases. Baseball is a homer and strikeout game now. Strategy no longer needed.

Agreed. It needs to go the way of the bullpen golf cart.

 

[ChillOutDog]

Too much money on the line to allow Wainwright type injuries to happen while hitting. Add to the fact that they suck and nobody pays to see that. I can’t believe the NL owners haven’t rioted to change it yet.

 

[HumpDawgy]

I prefer no DH just for the strategy of when to pull a pitcher. Sometimes into a game a coach/manager must make a decisiion to insert a pinch hitter in for the pitcher to drive a run in, but might have to pull a pitcher an inning or two too early. Baseball can be a chess match and having a DH makes the game more like checkers.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

Keep it the way it is. If you like the DH, watch an AL game... if you don't, watch an NL game.

It's always great to see AL pitchers go to bat when there's an inter-league game.

 

[HumpDawgy]

It also keeps pitchers from pitching too aggressively (brush back, plunking) knowing they will eventually have to grab a bat and step into the box.

 

[DawgInThe256]

I'm against the DH, but I'd be in favor of the leagues using the same rules. One side effect of the DH is that AL teams have an advantage when pursuing veteran free agents. They can offer to let the player finish their career at DH.

 

[5049]

It also keeps pitchers from pitching too aggressively (brush back, plunking) knowing they will eventually have to grab a bat and step into the box.

This is the only rational reason I've ever seen for NOT wanting a DH

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Why does anyone want to see a pitcher hit? Or a team bailed out of an inning be ause a guy hitting .125 is in the lineup? The game is already slow and, in todays entertainment world, boring enough.

college baseball is awesome and pitchers dont hit. Oh and its also 56 games

I used to be in the "do away with it camp". But as you mentioned, the game is slow enough as it is. Add all of the double switching they do in the NL, and it has become borderline ridiculous. There are too many guys playing in the NL today who can't catch a cold, but have to play in the field to keep their bat in the lineup. And too many good players migrate to the AL later in their careers because of the DH rule.

So I've changed my mind and wish they would bring it to the NL.

And anything that eliminates a decision that Mike Matheny has to make is better for the game - at least in St Louis. Cardinal fans would no longer be subjected to him double switching a pitcher into the 3 spot in a close game.

 

[MSUDawgFan86]

I love the DH. That’s why I hate watching National League Baseball.
Nobody wants to see a goofy *** pitcher flail at the plate or bunt. Sure there have been a handful of pitchers who were competent at the plate but they are few and far between. That being said I’m a big Rangers fan and there are probably some pitchers I’d rather march out there to bat than some of the bums we have in the lineup currently.

 

[Dawgzilla]

This. I have never liked the DH, but I think the National League is just about the only organized league that doesn't use it. I think it's here to stay.

When I was growing up, we didn't have a DH until I got to High School. As stated above, our pitchers in High School were great all around athletes (with one notable exception), so we actually DH'ed for our catcher who couldn't run well due to a birth defect in one leg. This meant that one particular lefty reliever - we'll just call him "Hawgzilla" - had to bat on those rare occasions he was called to the mound.

At least I never struck out.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

We have to recognize that it changes the sport and that we probably get a better product due to having the rule.

Imagine if football required you to use the same eleven players on offense, defense, and special teams, and substituting a player out meant he was ineligible for the rest of the game. Otherwise, the rules of the game are the same. Would the game be different? Absolutely. Would it be more enjoyable? Hell no.

Lineman would have to be good at both pass rushing and pass blocking, and you probably would favor a good player at both over an excellent/fair player. You would be more conservative because even a mildly injured player who could go back in after a quarter of rest would be taken out for the rest of the game. Kicking would be absolutely crappy. Field goals over forty yards would be rare. Punts might go for 45 yards.

But if this is were how football was currently played, you would have people complaining at the possibility of letting teams substitute unlimitedly. It would change the strategy and lead to players who could only play one side of the ball.

Sure, the analogy isn't totally fair, but we can see how you get a better product from specialized players. Same with the DH.