Truth & Rumors > MLB
Why National League may have to adopt DH soon
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09:19 AM ET 03.03 | This year marks the 40th anniversary of the designated hitter. But hold the celebrations. Because having the two leagues playing under different rules never has been more problematic than now. It is to such a degree that one veteran general manager said, "It is just a matter of time until the leagues are forced to play under one set of rules and, let's face it, the DH is not going away, so that is going to be what everyone uses." Here are just a few of the main problems: 1. More teams can spend big money than ever. Yet, NL clubs are at a disadvantage to sign position players -- specifically corner players -- to the kind of mega-deals like Prince Fielder (nine years, $214 million with Tigers) and Albert Pujols (10 years, $240 million with Angels) did to switch leagues. NL teams have no soft-DH landing spot for such players to retain some value, even if they no longer can play the field competently. 2. Thus, instead of having 15-18 interleague games played in two clusters before the All-Star break, interleague games will be interspersed from the first to last day of the season. So each AL club will have to decide how to prepare its pitchers to do something foreign -- hit and run the bases -- at different intervals rather than just twice all year.
Prince Fielder, Elsa/Getty Images
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Comments (182) Add A Comment
Don't Do It, Bros!
I Love LA
Total Comments (5564)
What is wrong with the AL going back to the way baseball was invented and having 8 position players bat along with the pitcher.
toad
Total Comments (1665)
the DH should go away ASAP. It was "invented" to boost revenues and it destroyed the strategy of the game.
captaincruzan
St. Croix, VI
Total Comments (451)
Never happen. Too many guys make too much money way beyond their days of playing in the field.
50yearfan
Total Comments (11202)
Great idea. Take the dumbest rule ever put into a profesional sport, and force it on everyone, so that real baseball is no longer played anywhere.
ElevenRingsSTL
Total Comments (2981)
Diehard American League fan............But I hate the DH rule.........Let it be gone !!!!!!!!!!!!
Mickey Bad Arse
Total Comments (29381)
Why it is more problematic than it ever was before? Because with the new interleague schedule AL pitchers are forced to hit and run year round instead of twice a year? So? That's too bad for them. Let them get hurt. It is price they must pay for deviating from the conventional league rules to begin with. If their pitchers cannot hit and run then they have their own problems
Flea Biscuit
Total Comments (991)
Having to watch a pitcher hit is like watching paint dry.
jnorman41
Total Comments (4146)
But watching AL pitchers hurt themselves doing something as routine as running the bases is exciting
Flea Biscuit
Total Comments (991)
This article stated, "let's face it, the DH is not going away"!!! Why is that and why should the NL adopt the DH??? IMO the DH has ruined the game. Here you have a 40 year old man that just sits on his butt, when his team is out in the field, then gets up 3/4 times a game and swing a bat. If he is lucky enough to get a hit, then he gets a chance to run the bases. Screw the DH, if baseball wants both leagues to play under one set of rules, then let the AL, get back to "real" baseball and get rid of the DH, like it originally was!!! Just my opinion.
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23257)
NL teams have won four out of the last five World Series. Yep. It's time for a change...
williewilliejuan
Total Comments (35184)
LOL, you must have been a pitcher in your younger days!!!!! IMO, all 9 players, should come to the plate and bat!!!!!
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23257)
I like the DH. I like offense. If the pitchers are that good, then let them face another legit hitter.
clemtheslowson
Total Comments (35333)
Here is a thought...
A compromise. Allow the DH to be used in both leagues, but add a twist.
The DH has to be a different player off the bench each time through the lineup. Or, a team can bat its pitcher if it wants.
This way, a team such as the Red Sox, with David Ortiz, can only allow him to bat once, like a pinch hitter.
If a team chooses to bat a pitcher, he can be pulled at any time for a DH/PH.
However, if a team such as the Sox bat Ortiz in the first or second inning, he's done for the game. Next time around, they'd have to bat Johnny Gomes or Pedro Ciriaco. Or, they could allow the pitcher to hit, then in the ninth, bring in a bench player such as Lavarnway.
...the best policy
Harrodsburg, KY
Total Comments (4038)
I agree. I prefer the DH for the most part. It adds offense to the game, and allows pitching changes to be made based only on pitching performance.
But, my compromise, as outlined above, is a dandy.
...the best policy
Harrodsburg, KY
Total Comments (4038)
But, football players can still play "2 ways", if they wish and the coach allows them . How many pitcher do you see as a DH?? IMO, if a pitcher is not a very good hitter, then have him take a little extra batting practice. IMO, the only advantage of the DH, is that it has allows players to extend their playing careers!!!
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23257)
Look, The AL can keep their DH. No problem. Just don't expect the NL to switch over. Ain't gonna happen
Flea Biscuit
Total Comments (991)
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