DH?

[ejr]

For those who love the game of baseball - just wanted to know your feelings on the Designated Hitter?


IMHO, it shouldn't be there.

MLB is the only professional sport that has different rules for each league (that I'm aware of, anyway). NFL, NHL, NBA, etc., does not.

As an example.. Football. If the QB throws an interception? He is now on defense - they don't pull him out of the game.

I'm a National League fan as I grew up with the Cubs, and root for the Rockies.

I resemble that remark

I agree with you entirely! Also grew up with the Cubs (and am still with them). Baseball should be played on grass, in the daytime, with no designated hitter!!!

If every team played like the Cubs do then no one would ever win the world series

[RAGTOP]

As an example.. Football. If the QB throws an interception? He is now on defense - they don't pull him out of the game.

actually he pulls himself out of the game by running to the sideline to ensure himself of not being ivolved in the tackle or getting hurt

[LIPH]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

[Tequila Revenge]

As a baseball purist, I don't want a DH. I want the strategy that goes along with a pitcher batting.

As a baseball fan, I like having an extra hitter with the DH, and recognize that the entertainment value of the game is probably higher with the DH.

Love point number one..... but I think point two argues with number one. In baseball there is no unlimitied amounts of rolling substitutions like baseketball and football. There's no nickle package, no three point shooters at the end of the game, none of that. If you make a substitution in baseball that's all she wrote, it's done and permanent until the next game. In a close game in the NL, there's a point in time during a close game where everyone knows the onus will soon be on the manager to keep or pull the pitcher. It 100% affects the strategy of the game and can not be ignored. The AL does not have to deal with such an important aspect of the game every night. How often to do you see a double switch in the AL?

Also, I can remember on numerous occasions the mgr using a pitcher as a pinch hitter to sacrafice a player into scoring position. Dodgers using Hershheiser against the Mets in 88 comes to mind. That's entertaining and what makes baseball better than the other sports.


I understand what you mean by the extra pop of the bat adding entertainment value. Personally I enjoy the strategy and the gamble each and every night.

[NYCPORT]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

Agreed. But I COULD hit over .200 if I practiced all day long at it. Why can't the pitchers???

[LIPH]

As a baseball fan, I like having an extra hitter with the DH, and recognize that the entertainment value of the game is probably higher with the DH.

A 1-0 pitchers duel can be just as exciting as a 14-11 slugfest.

[ejr]

As a baseball purist, I don't want a DH. I want the strategy that goes along with a pitcher batting.

As a baseball fan, I like having an extra hitter with the DH, and recognize that the entertainment value of the game is probably higher with the DH.

Love point number one..... but I think point two argues with number one. In baseball there is no unlimitied amounts of rolling substitutions like baseketball and football. There's no nickle package, no three point shooters at the end of the game, none of that. If you make a substitution in baseball that's all she wrote, it's done and permanent until the next game. In a close game in the NL, there's a point in time during a close game where everyone knows the onus will soon be on the manager to keep or pull the pitcher. It 100% affects the strategy of the game and can not be ignored. The AL does not have to deal with such an important aspect of the game every night. How often to do you see a double switch in the AL?

Also, I can remember on numerous occasions the mgr using a pitcher as a pinch hitter to sacrafice a player into scoring position. Dodgers using Hershheiser against the Mets in 88 comes to mind. That's entertaining and what makes baseball better than the other sports.


I understand what you mean by the extra pop of the bat adding entertainment value. Personally I enjoy the strategy and the gamble each and every night.

I entirely agree with you! In one of the few recent Cub wins, Zambrano pitched a 1 hitter, and hit a 3 run home run finishing with 4 RBIs---a fantastic performance. And he has also been called upon to pinch hit-and he is not a bad hitter.

I know that for some fans, the more hits the better, but a great pitching performance, or a great pitching duel is a joy to watch!

[Tequila Revenge]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

One of the funniest things I've heard was listening to Eric Karros talk about batting behind Piazza and how many RBI's Piazza cost him in his carreer. No one can turn a triple into a single like Mike. Hope they bring that up on the day he goes into Coopertown.

[LIPH]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

Agreed. But I COULD hit over .200 if I practiced all day long at it. Why can't the pitchers???

Because with the DH they don't have to. In the pre-DH days there were a lot of pitchers who could hit.

[green1]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

Agreed. But I COULD hit over .200 if I practiced all day long at it. Why can't the pitchers???

Because with the DH they don't have to. In the pre-DH days there were a lot of pitchers who could hit.

Babe Ruth pitched.

[RAGTOP]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

most pitchers are an automatic out. They don't even try half the time. They get up there, stand 10 feet off the plate and swing at 3 balls in the dirt. Sure there are some fielders that are better than others but they all can catch a routine fly ball (at least 99% of the time ). Some might not make the spectacular plays of throw guys out from their knees but they can all catch and throw the ball. Designated runners is just to silly to even comment on.

[green1]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

most pitchers are an automatic out. They don't even try half the time. They get up there, stand 10 feet off the plate and swing at 3 balls in the dirt. Sure there are some fielders that are better than others but they all can catch a routine fly ball (at least 99% of the time ). Some might not make the spectacular plays of throw guys out from their knees but they can all catch and throw the ball. Designated runners is just to silly to even comment on.

And yet to again cite Ruth. When he came back to the Boston Braves he had a designated runner.

[LIPH]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

most pitchers are an automatic out. They don't even try half the time. They get up there, stand 10 feet off the plate and swing at 3 balls in the dirt. Sure there are some fielders that are better than others but they all can catch a routine fly ball (at least 99% of the time ). Some might not make the spectacular plays of throw guys out from their knees but they can all catch and throw the ball. Designated runners is just to silly to even comment on.

Have you seen Ryan Howard try to play first base?

And about designated runners, maybe you don't remember Herb Washington. He was on the Oakland A's in 1974 and 1975 and appeared in 105 games over those 2 seasons. He didn't have any at bats, all he did was pinch run.

[RAGTOP]

For all the people who think we need the DH because pitchers can't hit ...
Should we have designated fielders because some guys are terrible defensive players?
Should we have designated runners because guys like Mike Piazza run like they're carrying a large kitchen appliance on their backs?

There have always been bad hitters, and not all of them are pitchers. Everybody can't hit .320 with 40 HRs and 130 RBI.

most pitchers are an automatic out. They don't even try half the time. They get up there, stand 10 feet off the plate and swing at 3 balls in the dirt. Sure there are some fielders that are better than others but they all can catch a routine fly ball (at least 99% of the time ). Some might not make the spectacular plays of throw guys out from their knees but they can all catch and throw the ball. Designated runners is just to silly to even comment on.

Have you seen Ryan Howard try to play first base?

And about designated runners, maybe you don't remember Herb Washington. He was on the Oakland A's in 1974 and 1975 and appeared in 105 games over those 2 seasons. He didn't have any at bats, all he did was pinch run.

Out of every 100 throws or groundballs to first how many does he catch? Maybe 90??? Not the same as a pitcher going up to bat and swinging at garbage so he can go back and sit on the bench.

Once you pinch run, whoever your running for is out of the game. You can't compare that to a DH... apples and oranges.

[LIPH]

But he played for Oakland when Charlie Finley, the father of the DH, still owned the team. He was pushing for a designated runner too, that's the only reason he signed Herb Washington. The guy was an Olympic sprinter who had never played baseball in his life.

[Tequila Revenge]

Ragtop,

Just currious if you're under 30 years old. Maybe you never really experienced baseball without a DH.

[weirdo0521]

DH hater....

With no batting order strategy, the AL game takes foreverrrrrrr

Not with Mark Buehrle on the mound. Keeps it near 2 hrs all the time.

[RAGTOP]

But he played for Oakland when Charlie Finley, the father of the DH, still owned the team. He was pushing for a designated runner too, that's the only reason he signed Herb Washington. The guy was an Olympic sprinter who had never played baseball in his life.

I have no problem if someone wants to sign a sprinter to run the bases... keep in mind they then have to play the field and no manager is going to take that risk.

[BottleofRum]

I like the DH.

I'd rather see good pitchers face good hitters than the automatic outs that the majority of pitchers are.

As far as who is the stronger league: since the DH was added in 1973(I think) the AL team has won 20 out of 32 World Series (no WS in 1994).

I also believe it has been about 10 years since the NL won an All Star game

Last 14 years world series champions: AL 10 NL 4 the last time the NL won a world series game 2003

The NL has not won an all star game since 1996 and have only won 3 out of the last 18 all star games.

Look at all the pitchers who put up great numbers in the NL then come to an AL team and stink Pavano, J. Wright, Clement, Suppan, Benson to name a few) look at all the so so AL pitchers who go to the NL and put up good numbers Arroyo, Wright, Suppan, A. Harang...

The AL is the far dominate league in both pitching and hitting and has been for a long time and it's not all because of the DH. It's the way teams are built, in the AL you find far more solid 1-9 line-ups in the NL it's more like a solid 1-6 line up with a so so 7 hitter and 2 automatic outs batting 8-9. Then when the two leagues play each other it's one-sided.

[BottleofRum]

But he played for Oakland when Charlie Finley, the father of the DH, still owned the team. He was pushing for a designated runner too, that's the only reason he signed Herb Washington. The guy was an Olympic sprinter who had never played baseball in his life.

I have no problem if someone wants to sign a sprinter to run the bases... keep in mind they then have to play the field and no manager is going to take that risk.

I have always felt NHL teams should hire a sumo wrestler to play goalie.