Exceedingly so.
Let's say he has a three hitter going but his team is behind 1-0. Two outs, runner on second and the bullpen was used the night before in a 15 inning game.
What do you do?
In the American League....who cares?
Well, how many situations like that come up? A 15-inning game and no one available in the bullpen. Really now.
In any event, I want a player in the batters box who has a prayer of getting a hit in any tight situation.
You apparently don’t. So we just flat disagree, friend.
I remember an incident around 1968 or ‘69 (ironically involving Houston) where a pitcher was working on a no-hitter going to the 9th inning, but the game was 0-0. Manager Preston Gomez lifted his pitcher for a pinch-hitter and set off a controversy for a week. With the DH, that never happens.
Managers these days manage too much “by the book.” They think if it’s the 9th, they’re required to bring in the closer. If they don’t and they lose, they’ll get crucified for it. If they do, well, he had a bad game.