Comments on: Bud's Committee is not going to ban the DH

By: Loren

Loren — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:52:24 +0000

Conspiracy theory:
The committee will decide that the DH is not in the best interests of the game. The owners will try to abolish it, the players union will fight it since DHs make good money, and then the owners will offer to keep the DH in exchange for hard slotting in the draft!

By: Jonny5

Jonny5 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:44:18 +0000

“AL pitchers face a true major league hitter every single at bat in the game.”
Baseball is a team sport and it wasn’t created with the DH. It’s been used by one league. One league that decided pitchers should be treated with kid gloves. It’s lame, most true Baseball fans would agree. It will be a sad day if it ever hits the NL.
“Pitchers are so special only they get to pitch. Let’s take it a step further. Would you say anyone who hits should have to take a turn at pitching as well?”
No, i’d say if you are on the field with a glove, you must come up to bat. If you come up to bat, you must get on the field with a glove. Kinda makes sense. It was a punk of a rule when it was implemented, and it’s a punk rule today. End of story. It was created because Chicks dig the long ball. :>)~ I’m sure you catch my drift……

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:02:17 +0000

You’re right Jonny, baseball should be played properly. That’s the point. Pitchers CANNOT play the game properly. They CANNOT hit! It’s embarrassing to watch, screws the number 8 hitter, and the “strategy” employed argument that “purists” pontificate is a joke. Every game, NL pitchers get three – four automatic outs. Additionally, they can completely avoid the number 8 hitter. That’s 6-8 batters per game that they do not have to address. AL pitchers face a true major league hitter every single at bat in the game.

By: Tony A

Tony A — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:43:08 +0000

Since this is turning into a referendum on the DH, might as well get my 2 cents in: I vote for the same rule in both leagues, I would prefer DH in both, but would gladly settle for DH in neither.
Just so long as it’s the same in both leagues!

By: Neon Noodle

Neon Noodle — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:24:39 +0000

Baseball should be played properly? There is a rule (6.10) that says using the DH is playing the game properly.
Pitchers are so special only they get to pitch. Let’s take it a step further. Would you say anyone who hits should have to take a turn at pitching as well? Sure, it’s ludicrous, but face it, baseball is a game of specialization no matter how you look at it.
And you really hurt my feelings by calling me “noodle head”, I hope you’re satisfied.

By: jonny5

jonny5 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:54:31 +0000

That isn’t the point noodle head. Baseball should be played properly. Pitchers are players too, and they should bat like the rest of the team. If they don’t bat they don’t come back next inning. I say it’s equal to pulling them from the game, but they’re special so they can come back into the game?????? DH is bull.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:45:46 +0000

I’m a huge DH fan. I’ve watched Pirates and Orioles games and
now A’s and Giants games each season, and I’d rather see an AL
game anytime. The #8 batter walks twice a game to get to the pitcher
in NL games — great strategy there. Pitchers only start 30 games a year now and can’t hit, bat .130. It is a big DIS-advantage to the AL in the series to have to have pitchers try to hit or even bunt when they haven’t done it all year- – and they still dominate inter-league play and the World Series. Pitchers don’t get paid one cent more to hit, they don’t care about it, and they can’t do it. The DH was one of the best changes to baseball ! The NL fans just use it as an excuse. Would you rather watch Matsui bat 4 times a game or Pettite – - easy choice.

By: dave

dave — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:09:37 +0000

The DH sucks. Get rid of the excuse to keep tired old nen on the team. If you do not want to do away with the DH then put the 6″ back on the mound and lets see how they do then.
The DH is like a side show at the circus

By: Neon Noodle

Neon Noodle — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:06:23 +0000

Ok anti-DHers, here is your test. Say, they implemenet the DH into the NL this off season. You are a Phillies fan. In the second inning, with 2 outs, Raul Ibanez is on third, and Jayson Werth is on second. Carlos Ruiz is coming to the plate in the number 9 spot. Would any of you be thinking “Man, this DH thing sucks, I wish Roy Halladay were batting right now.”

By: HammerPhils

HammerPhils — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:49:31 +0000

I think the next step after the DH, is to expand the roster and have an offensive team, and a defensive team. That way we wouldn’t have to see any bad batters or poor fielders. Everyone would be happy, well except baseball purists.

By: YANKEES1996

YANKEES1996 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:34:10 +0000

I cannot stand the DH rule, I would love to see pitchers up there laying down a bunt, sacrificing and hitting. The DH role is becoming even more specialized, now there are teams that are going out a signing guys to do nothing but DH and that is sad. But that being said you will most likely see the DH added to the National League before it is gotten rid of in the American League.

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:28:43 +0000

Thanks for help making our point in support of the DH! “If you can play baseball, then play baseball…” Pitcher can only pitch…they are absolutely incapable of hitting. Let the pitchers pitch and let the hitters hit. Again, you’re not only wasting the number 9 hitter, you’re wasting number 8 as well.

By: jonny5

jonny5 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:12:58 +0000

BK, that’s a dumb thing to say actually. If you count WS wins since 1963 it’s 21 – 25 AL on top. Since you probably can’t count that’s a difference of 4 since then. Yake out the huge spending Yankees and it’s even. Seroiusly you’re just being a douche about it now.
“I get the feeling most of the replies here are coming from NL fans. There’s a reason why position players don’t pitch, and there’s a reason why pitchers don’t hit. The MLB batting average for pitchers is about .135. Maybe it wasn’t always that way, but by now the gimmick isn’t the DH, it’s having the pitcher bat.”
Baseball fundamentals out the window, that’s ok for AL fans I guess…… Maybe this new committe will vote in the use of softballs now to make the game more exciting yet??? Yoo hoo!!!!

By: John_Michael

John_Michael — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:08:23 +0000

let’s put some excitement into baseball!
Some of us like more than what is shown on Sports Center.

By: AL

AL — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:44:54 +0000

I get the feeling most of the replies here are coming from NL fans. There’s a reason why position players don’t pitch, and there’s a reason why pitchers don’t hit. The MLB batting average for pitchers is about .135. Maybe it wasn’t always that way, but by now the gimmick isn’t the DH, it’s having the pitcher bat.

By: tk

tk — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:44:24 +0000

I think “Crash” Davis said it best…”I believe there ought to be a Constitutional Amendment outlawing astroturf and the designated hitter…”
How many other jobs are out there (other than CEO) where you can get paid the most amount of money while doing only half the work of your peers. If you can play baseball, then play baseball…and that means defense as well…OR…maybe the MLB can institute a designated fielder rule as well…so you can also hire a great fielder who can’t hit a beachball thrown underhand.

By: DJ

DJ — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:43:11 +0000

LOVE the DH. The DH adds some hitting excitement to an otherwise boring, pitcher dominated game. I say lower the mound, let the hitters use aluminum bats and let’s put some excitement into baseball!

By: kardo

kardo — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:33:50 +0000

With all the talk of managerial decisions, there is very little involved in deciding whether a pitcher stays in. The average innings pitched by a SP in the AL is 5.8. In the NL it’s 5.8. Average pitches per GS: AL 96. NL 95. How about relief pitchers? Pitchers per Game relief: AL 19, NL 17. Outs per game relief: AL 3.3, NL 3.
Generally the idea of when to change pitchers is the same in the AL or the NL. If a SP is doing good, he stays in. Relief pitchers only pitch 1 inning. and the double switch? As said before, you could train a monkey to do it.
But there is nothing wrong the DH as it is. I for one can’t see how it makes the AL stronger. All that money spend on old players who can slug but not move a glove can’t be spend on buying better players for the other position.

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:28:19 +0000

Absolutely. In the NL, not only is the 9th “batter” (pitcher) a wasted space, it makes the 8th batter moot for the most part as well because it usually makes sense to walk him to get to the pitcher. Strategy? Please. AL managers need to figure out how to pitch to 9 competent batters vs. 7 in the NL. Get on board, NL!

By: BK

BK — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:05:32 +0000

DH makes baseball that much more exciting. Look at the NL…a joke of a league, its the minor league for the AL, the DH takes some situations out of managing but puts more back in with having to deal with big power hitters. The NL should either adopt the DH or just leave things how they are. I would hate for the AL to get rid of it.

By: Chad

Chad — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:00:35 +0000

The DH is a horrible rule, the best analogy i have heard was:
“Can you imagine if the western conference played with a 3 point line and the eastern conference didn’t”?
If you do not require a glove to do your job you are not a baseball player and should not be allowed on the roster. The rulebook plainly says “Baseball is a game played by 9 players” no where does it talk about some gimmick training wheels for old farts that are past their primes.

By: hop2171

hop2171 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:55:03 +0000

As a fan the DH is the only way to go, i hate it when a team has the bases juiced and i get to see the #8 hitter walked just so we can watch the pitcher bat. Just kills the whole moment for me but with that said there is no way, i repeat, no way the DH is going away no matter what Bud says, does, creates, ect. there is ZERO CHANCE. Why? Simple, the Players Union will never allow it, they would strike at the moment they tried to pass such a rule change. Anyone who says anything different just doesnt know, the DH is normally a guy who is making pretty good cash, the players union isnt letting that walk out the door folks so get used to it.

By: DSFC

DSFC — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:53:00 +0000

Hate NL ball – the very worst thing in baseball is watching a pitcher try to hit. Close behind that is seeing a manager forced to take a starter out too early to try to keep a rally going.
I don’t watch games to see how clever the manager can be. I watch to see the players play. I have zero interest in watching AL pitchers hit.

By: Chipmaker

Chipmaker — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:51:14 +0000

Why the heck does McDonald’s and its competitors get to sell hamburgers AND cheeseburgers? Consumers get too confused! It’s about time these fast-food corporations made up their bottom-lined minds and chose one and eliminated the other.
Or they can go on selling two different (but very similar) products, just like MLB does.
I’d much rather dump interleague play (which isn’t going to happen either) than eliminate the DH OR impose the DH on the NL. As it is now, I have a choice of two different (but very similar) types of major league-class baseball.
Eliminating the DH wouldn’t eliminate the players. Those that can hit well, will get to play first base, and the quality of defense will suffer. Not really the outcome the anti-DH faction is expecting.

By: Cluck

Cluck — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:47:40 +0000

Vicente Padilla did pitch in the NL (for the Phils) and he hit a lot of people then. There are two ways to get pitchers to stop throwing at players, one is for the umpires to take control and the other is to have that pitcher’s teammates to take control.

By: Steve Kusheloff

Steve Kusheloff — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:47:25 +0000

I hate the DH rule, too. It tears at the very basics of baseball – the same 9 guys in the field are the same 9 guys who hit. It’s not going away, though. And it’s the main reason the American League is superior to the National League, and will be for the forseeable future. Unless the top 15 pitchers in baseball are in the NL, the AL will prevail in the All-Star Game (gaining home field advantage in the World Series), and will generally win the World Series. This year the Phillies had no one close to equalling the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui as DH. Unfortunately the only sensible solution is for the NL to adopt the Designated Hitter.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:44:15 +0000

My father will probably disown me for it, but I am 100% in favor of keeping the DH, and expanding it to the National League.
Pitching has become such a specialized profession, that pitchers don’t have the time to keep their chops up. Most were probably decent hitters when they were in high school, and maybe even college. I don’t want to see Mike Pelfrey or Andy Pettite flailing away at sliders on the outside corner. Pitchers are almost automatic outs every time through the lineup. How is that exciting baseball?
If the cat was never let out of the bag, there never was a DH, ok, I can see not bringing it into use. But it makes for a more exciting game. The double switch is NOT managerial strategy. I could train a monkey to consistently do it correctly.
It makes exactly zero sense for the American League to have it and the National League not to. Time for the NL to get on board.

By: John_Michael

John_Michael — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:42:10 +0000

I didn’t come to the ballpark to see some utility infielder flailing away against some 12th man on the staff in the 7th inning.
It’s not watching the utility/replacement player that I find interesting, it’s the strategy that got us there. A manager must weigh the cost of pinch hitting his top bench player in a mid inning offensive opportunity vs. saving him for later in the game with could potentially be a higher leverage situation.
So using your example, that may not be the best demonstration of baseball ‘skillz,’ however I bet the thought process leading up to the 7th inning would be fascinating. This happens more with the DH than without –>(no evidence to support).

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:29:20 +0000

I like the DH because it reduces managerial strategy. Sure, AL East games can get excessive with all the taking of pitches and the slugging, but all those NL pitching changes and pinch hits are pretty infuriating, too.

I didn't come to the ballpark to see some utility infielder flailing away against some 12th man on the staff in the 7th inning.

By: Twins Fan

Twins Fan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:23:25 +0000

As a Twins fan, I would love to see the DH banned. This would place a greater importance on bench players. You would also see fewer Vicente Padilla’s (AL pitchers) throwing at batters, too. I doubt it will ever happen, but I think it would be more fair to the National League when it comes to interleague play, playoffs, etc.