Posted on 02/11/2019 10:07:24 PM PST by TBP
Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that there could be many potential rule changes applied to both the American and National Leagues. One of these potential rule changes is adding the universal designated hitter (also referred to as “DH”). This would take pitchers out of NL lineups and replace them with a hitter of the manager’s choice.
The AL implemented the DH in 1973, but the NL has always stayed away from it until now. This has been one of the most frequently talked about topics over the years. So let’s take a look at why the the universal designated hitter would be bad for MLB.
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Sports Illustrated ✔ @SInow MLB is reportedly discussing rule changes including a three-batter requirement for all pitchers and adding a universal DH http://go.si.com/cWuMBCt
44 8:51 AM - Feb 6, 2019 34 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy The Universal Designated Hitter Would be Bad for the MLB Rule 1.01 This is the first and main reason the designated hitter should not be added to the National League. Rule 1.01 in the official Major League Baseball rule-book states “Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each…” This rule has remained static for decades in the NL, and when you add a DH to the lineup, teams are technically playing with ten players. This new universal DH rule would break this first objective as well as disrupt baseball’s historical significance.
It Takes Strategy Out Of The Game Many fans of the game believe watching pitchers hit is a boring part of baseball and dread for the ninth spot in the lineup to be on deck. But when pitchers are a part of the lineup, it adds much needed strategy to the game. It’s like Tom Verducci wrote: “If you like the DH, you like checkers. If you like NL style baseball, you like chess. Baseball without the DH is a better, more strategic game. Why tick off half your fan base and tell them you can’t have chess any more and you must like checkers?”
Pinch-hitting Managers must manage their bench and decide when to pinch-hit for their pitcher. At times a pitcher could be performing well but the team is struggling to score runs, so the manager will have to make a decision whether to substitute his pitcher for a player off the bench for a chance to breakthrough with some runs, or decide to leave his dealing pitcher in. Another example would be if a teams bullpen is depleted, the manager could decide to leave his pitcher in the game to bat even if it means risking a chance to score. These type of managerial decisions make the game of baseball much more exciting.
Bunting Another important strategy that is used when pitchers bat is bunting. Bunting is becoming obsolete in this era of baseball with everyone trying to swing for the fences. Although bunting adds a refreshing strategy to the game of baseball, it will become even more obsolete if the MLB decides to add the universal DH.
Pitchers Can Hit Most people who are anti-DH will point out players like Ivan Nova who has a career .042 batting average and 92 strikeouts in 144 at-bats. There are certainly many pitchers who cannot hit, but there are also plenty that can. Including the most notable like Madison Bumgarner who has clubbed 17 homers in ten big-league seasons, Michael Lorenzen who launched 4 home-runs last season, and Yovani Gallardo who has hit 12 homers in his career. These guys are not sluggers by any means, but they can definitely handle the bat.
Brandon Woodruff Just ask Brandon Woodruff if pitchers can hit. He took future Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw deep in game one of the 2018 NLCS.
Bartolo Colon And let’s not forget about Bartolo Colon who hit one of the most memorable home runs in recent memory.
The Verdict The sad fact is MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will probably implement the universal DH in the next collective bargaining agreement in 2021. This will more than likely improve the NL offensively, but it will mean the very first objective in the Official Baseball rule book will be broken after decades. Additionally, it will take away a lot of the manager’s strategic decisions, and fans will miss out on the exciting moments such as Brandon Woodruff’s and Bartolo Colon’s home runs.
In my book, people who claim that baseball is boring have just declared themselves as being unimaginative simpletons. It is an intriguing sport for those who can recognize the dozens of games within the game that are occurring continually.
Thanks!
Freegards
I wonder if most managers would rather take the DH, or just have another roster spot to carry another pitcher. Most NL teams seem to have pinch hitters that almost never field anyway.
Ryan Zimmerman, the often injured, might make a good DH if it ever comes to the NL.
Freegards
I used to agree with you about pitch counts, but now I’m not so sure. Look at how many pitchers these days have fastballs in the high 90s. That used to be a rarity. I’ve come to accept the fact that the human arm is now being stressed to the point of its physical limits, and what you’re seeing is surely a symptom of that.
I don’t think Stanton was a full-time DH in 2018. He probably played more games there than usual because he was hampered by some nagging injuries.
What has really brought about the decline of baseball has been the rapid expansion of advanced metrics in the game -- to the point where there has been far less emphasis on putting the ball in play. It seems like half the at-bats these days end in either home runs or strikeouts.
This is a case where baseball's slow pace works against itself -- because it is so much easier to meticulously analyze and "over-coach" baseball than any other sport.
A point I'd not considered. Still, if a pitcher is going into the sixth or seventh inning, still pitching strong and getting batters out, why change? I'm far from a baseball "expert" it just seems to me if a pitcher is still going strong why not leave him in? A good coach knows when a pitcher is getting tired and will replace them when needed.
Watching the last World Series for example was like watching one big pitching rotation in a single game. Dugouts got used up, pitchers were tired, etc.. How about some strategy instead of straight pitch-count?
Good point.
Stanton’s contract was definitely for an OFer.
Stanton was primarily a DH in 2018, and is expected to be mainly a DH in 2019. The Yankees official MLB depth chart shows him as #1 DH and OF backup. But there is certainly a lot of opinion that says he ought to be the main LFer.
This is most likely a combination of pitchers getting fatigued and batters getting more comfortable at the plate with more at-bats against the same pitcher.
Yep. Like homosexuality and inter-league play, the DH is an unnatural act.
Oah, this is about baseball.
I thought it was about the universally designated Hitler.
The DH is corruption of the game.
Well, hell, if that's the point pf the game, why not just have a completely separate lineup for batting? Have 9 guys who just field, and another 9 who just bat. That should give you what you're asking for.
Heck, I thought it was about Laz.
I kind of like watching pitchers hit.
I get the 3-batter rule. It’s to cut dead time, which is what MLB is after. I’m not sure it reduces strategy, but it definitely changes it.
Agreed. No public funding for ballparks.
Tey have built some really nice ones, however.
Before teh DH, the Dick Stuarts and Pete Wards of the world found a way into the lineup, despite their defensive limitations. It was just considered part of the game.
Stuart’s nickname was “Dr. Strangeglove.”
I agree. I don’t want to hear about launch angle and exit velocity. Can anyone hit a double?
They’re not putting balls in play. We’ve just had the first season in history in which the majority of outcomes were what the sabermetricians call “the three true outcomes”: homeruns, strikeouts, and walks. We would have a LOT more action if players would stop swinging for the fences all the time.
They need to change the incentive structure. We need more good hitters to be rewarded, and not so much homerun hitters.
Professional hitters found their way into lineups before the DH, and they would find their way into lineups without the DH.
Personally, I like 1-0 pitcher’s duel. Not all the time, but I enjoy those games a lot. They’re exciting and strategic. (I like to “manage along.”)
The DH causes more pitching changes and reduces strategy, while creating an average of half a run per team per game.
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