[newnhdad]

it's difficult to judge the impact of a DH of the past few years versus the DH of the 80’s and 90s.
The metrics are so much different. A guy that might have a .260 BA with occasional power might also have a very high pitch count or a very high OBP or BABIP, LIPS, ISO, WAR or OPS and OPS+. The DH is not necessarily a slugger anymore.
If a guy was not able to bring statistical value to the position, he would not be there.

[Alberta's Child]

Great points. I think back to a guy like Don Baylor -- maybe the most prominent DH of the 1980s. During a typical season he'd hit .280, with 25 home runs and 90-95 RBIs. He was a solid all-around hitter but wasn't likely to lead the league in any of these categories.

It's also worth noting that since the DH has no value on the field defensively, it's probably the lineup spot that gets platooned more often than any other.