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It's time for the National League to adopt the DH
ESPN ^ | January 24, 2016 | Jim Bowden

Posted on 01/24/2016 12:03:41 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

The change: Implement the designated hitter rule in the National League.

How it would work:

The DH rule would be in effect for all professional games in every league at all levels -- with no exceptions.

I spent most of my front-office career in the National League, and have always preferred the game played without the DH rule. I like the late-inning strategies, the double-switches and deciding whether to take out your best pitcher when you're tied or down a run. I also like the fact that the bench and bullpens are more important in game strategy without a DH. It makes the game more entertaining.

The more pressing issue, however, is one of fairness and competitiveness. When an American League team plays a National League team, one of them has an unfair advantage based of whichever rule is being used for that particular game. If the Red Sox are playing an NL team in Fenway Park, Boston will have the game's best DH in David Ortiz, while its NL opponent will probably have to turn to its fourth outfielder or backup first baseman as its DH. When they play at an NL park, the Red Sox will have to relegate their best hitter to a pinch-hitting role. As silly as that sounds, that's how baseball has been operating.

(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: americanleague; baseball; designatedhitter; designatedhitterrule; dh; espn; jimbowden; mlb; nationalleague
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To: MinorityRepublican

The DH is a circus act, fitting for the junior league.


61 posted on 01/24/2016 2:51:21 PM PST by deweyfrank
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To: AnotherUnixGeek
because AL teams and their fans like it,

That's a falsehood perpetrated by professional baseball. If it was true then the NL would have instituted it years ago.

There is no baseball fan I know who supports the AL DH..................

62 posted on 01/24/2016 2:51:26 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Dear Santa: Please find a home for every homeless and unwanted cat and dog that is suffering)
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To: Charles Henrickson
The DH is the abomination that causes designation.

ROFL!!!

Well played, sir.

63 posted on 01/24/2016 2:54:51 PM PST by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
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To: MinorityRepublican

The absolute stupidest argument ever put forth if anything the AL need to abolish the DH and play real baseball.


64 posted on 01/24/2016 2:55:36 PM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: Alberta's Child
Another anomaly: He scored 29 runs in 1974 to match his stolen base total, but only fifteen of those runs came after he stole a base. His stolen base percentage for 1974 was .644---not exactly world beating.

My favourite Herb Washington baseball story: Yankee catcher Thurman Munson told him before a game not to try running on him because it would embarrass him, "plus my grandmother could throw you out."

Sure enough, Washington got a pinch running assignment and stole second on Munson, whose too-quick throw tailed away. The following day, before the game, Washington needled Munson: "Hey, Thurman. There's a call for you in the clubhouse. It's your grandmother. They're bringing her up."

The usually gruff Munson laughed.

65 posted on 01/24/2016 3:05:27 PM PST by BluesDuke (If the blues had a baby and named it rock and roll, the blues should have had an abortion . . .)
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To: llevrok

Butter up the Batter’s Box.


66 posted on 01/24/2016 3:17:18 PM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: MinorityRepublican

The DH in the American League has always been “gay” to me, something to make the game “easier”. If a pitcher can’t hit, well, he has a low batting average and you adjust your game as plays are decided while considering percentages.

Good thing I don’t really care about sports. Come to think of it, seems ESPN doesn’t either.


67 posted on 01/24/2016 3:28:48 PM PST by Blue Collar Christian (Ready for Teddy, Cruz that is.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Failed GM Jim Bowden has spoken. He shouldn't have.
68 posted on 01/24/2016 3:34:21 PM PST by JoeDonnellymakesmepuke
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To: MinorityRepublican
Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman tore his ACL during fielding practice in spring training last year. Pitcher Tim Hudson suffered a gruesome ankle injury covering first for the Braves in 2013. Pitcher Yovani Gallardo tore his ACL while playing defense in 2008. Alex Cobb, Brandon McCarthy, Dan Jennings, and more have taken a line drive to the head. Both MLB and MiLB are littered with Tommy John victims.

Pitching is just far too dangerous. In the interest of safety, MLB must eliminate pitchers and use tees.

69 posted on 01/24/2016 3:51:52 PM PST by JoeDonnellymakesmepuke
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To: MinorityRepublican
No it is not!!!

If true, I will boycott.

Me too! The regular season interleague play has already ruined it.

70 posted on 01/24/2016 3:55:27 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator (The "end of history" will be worldwide Judaic Theocracy.)
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To: HoosierDammit
I'm a Cubs fan as well. Even though a DH would get Kyle Schwarber out of the field I'd rather Schwarber figure out what to do with that leather thingy on his left hand when he's standing in left field. The DH is an invention of Satan.
71 posted on 01/24/2016 3:59:10 PM PST by JoeDonnellymakesmepuke
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To: MinorityRepublican

1. Get rid of THE DC in MLB.
2. Sit the pitcher out of the hitting line-up.
3. Have both leagues use an 8-man hitting line up
4. Two leagues, one set of rules.
.


72 posted on 01/24/2016 5:42:39 PM PST by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
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To: muir_redwoods

DC s/b DH


73 posted on 01/24/2016 5:43:12 PM PST by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I personally like NL non-DH ball and they shouldn’t change. However I also think the AL should keep the DH.

That’s one of the good things about baseball, the two leauges are different and you have two styles of baseball. What’s the difference between the NFC and AFC? Nothing! But the NL and AL there’s a whole lot.

It makes the World Series more interesting as the two styles clash (though inter-league play diminished this somewhat, they should get rid of that 1st).

If the NL adopted the DH (or the AL got rid of it) then you might as well get rid of the Leauge and just have regional divisions.


74 posted on 01/24/2016 5:44:51 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: MinorityRepublican

NO!


75 posted on 01/24/2016 7:26:02 PM PST by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite it's unfashionability)
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You know what I dislike about the DH? The name. BION I never notice the strategic effect or the effect on offense. It sounds clunky, especially out of a PA announcer's mouth. If only the International League had come up with a better name for it at the end of the '60s...

ff

76 posted on 01/26/2016 5:08:52 AM PST by foreverfree
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