The DH : The argument For

[Asonokirk V 2.0]

I have finally, after many years, decided I would like the designated hitter rule to be extended to the NL, and then all MLB would play by uniform rules. Instead of getting rid of the DH in the AL, I propose to add it to the NL for the following reasons:

1. The Fans
People pay to see good pitchers v.s. good batters. And though some pitchers in MLB are good hitters, enough of them are not that having 1 out of 9 AB's an automatic out for the most part isn't really good.

2. Consistency of the game.
In all levels of play, Little league on up until you get to pro ball, pitchers are generally the best players on teams, and hit very well at those levels.
For the pitcher's spot in a lineup to be almost an auto out is unique to pro ball, so having a DH creates a kind of consistency from LL to the Bigs.

3. Balance and Fairness.
The AL has been dominating the NL in recent years, and I think it is because the AL has become the more attractive league for hitters because of the DH. Give the NL the DH, too, and I bet the domination by the AL fades away.

4. Kindness to some players.
There has been in baseball, historically, some really good hitters who were such bad fielders they never made it to the Bigs. DH's give those types an opportunity. It also allows some players to extend their careers.

[sickness]

I'm with you on the NL getting the DH rule as well but not super gung-ho about it. I'm happy if they do but fine if they don't.

I'm not really with you on this being the reason the AL has dominated recently considering a) the rule has been around more than 30 years and the NL has still dominated that era overall or at least kept it even and b) it's mostly been the Yankees dominating in the last 10 years, not the AL as a whole. The Yankees have dominated because they've been willing to shell out ridiculous amounts of money in order to assemble Murder Row II.

As for why I'm with you, I think points 1 and 2 are just overwhelming in their persuasiveness. Strategy should be made against a hitting/scoring threat, not whether or not you've got an easy out coming up.

Point 4 is neither really here nor there to me. Guys who can't field to save their lives shouldn't have left college until they got a degree to fall back on and guys who are past their prime have already been paid enough that they could consider quitting with no ill consequences, although there obviously is a role for them as countless great hitter-fielder types have spent the twilight of their careers as DH's. Ricky Henderson comes immediately to mind.

[DarkJedi]

As a fanatic of the sport, I'm not gung ho AGAINST the DH for a couple of reasons but I will say I do not like the DH rule overall.

Especially your 4th point about Kindness to some players who can't play defense worth a lick. The professional level is supposed to be a level where players can "perform" on a professional basis on all aspects of baseball. That's why their in the pros.

What I understand about a recent development on having the dh is this. Older players who have lost their legs due to injury and time have a chance to keep on going in their careers for historic number plateaus. Players like Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi(in the near future), and Barry Bonds(also in the near future) will need the DH to keep on playing and I sorta think as a fan, it's a copout for the very records their going to break or numbers they're padding onto. To me, whatever numbers those players break, they still wont be as good in my mind as great fundamental pros who retired in the field strong like Will Clark, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Craig Biggio(almost ready to go but still strong field player), etc etc...Players who keep playing the field and proving they can do both all the way.

As I say, I'm not gungho "against" the DH but I don't like it very much.

You say that the AL rules in aspects of the game but I'm not too sure about that because of what sickness points out. If you look at the game for the past 30 years or so, it's the NL which seems to have an upper advantage because of "pitching" and the NL pitchers are more accustomed when they come to the plate when playing on their homefield.

I realize the emphasis the last few years from the media all the way down to the fans has been the "Homerun" & "Hitters" but I really do think most baseball fans really love it for more then some juiced up ball flying over 420 feet from some juiced up player. I think most baseball fans love the more intricant aspects of the game and that goes under 1.pitching, 2.defense, and 3.the fundamentals of good baseball. For me those 3 aspects are more emphasized in the National League where there is no DH.

Hehe......good topic though asono. I love talking baseball. :D

[Son of Gilbert]

I'm 100% for the DH. Every point Asona made was a good point, execpt number 3. The AL does have the best hitters but they also have the best pitchers as well. I would take some starters that didn't make the AL All-Star team over the NL All-Star starters. ( Beckett,Mussina) The AL play is much better as far as defense, they also have the best TEAMS where there are nine guys playing as one. If anyone saw Randy Johnson bat last Monday against the Phillies they would have to agree.

[Adam54]

Good points Kirk, but if anything were to change, I'd rather see the DH go away from the AL. But I'm a purist at heart.

Consider me apathetic. If they change it either way, fine. If not, that's fine too.