Comments on: I’m no fan of the DH, but pitchers batting has got to go

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:32:10 +0000

Except that’s what a pitcher does, right? Pitch. I don’t want my pitchers taking time away from what they’re actually getting paid to do to take batting practice.

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:31:24 +0000

Except there are also more teams then there were. Batters have also evolved. I dunno…I don’t love the DH, but it’s a better alternative than having a pitcher in the box.

By: Minoring In Baseball

Minoring In Baseball — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 01:55:59 +0000

Wow, some really crazy comments here…. One ‘reasoning’ in favor of having the pitchers hit, is because they could have been one of the best players and hitters on thier high school/college team or something. Well, since everyone (except me) loves football so much, what about the punters and place kickers? Would they be seen playing any other positions? No..their leg is their value to the team, and their ticket to the NFL. Same with pitchers, they need to protect that arm, as that’s the value to the team who’s most likely over-paying them.
http://minoringinbaseball.com/

By: jrbdmb

jrbdmb — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:57:20 +0000

Why stop with just one DH? I say have 9 DHs. If they happen to play the field as well, great. Just put your best 9 fielders on the field and your best 9 hitters at the plate.

By: leftywildcat

leftywildcat — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:41:36 +0000

How about having only the 8 position players come up to bat? An 8 man lineup would be a huge change; I’m not particularly in favor of it, but I’m surprised it hadn’t been mentioned yet.

By: conjecture101

conjecture101 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:37:17 +0000

Someone explain to me how it’s an objective fact that pitchers not hitting is better for baseball? Would you use the same argument in support of having 10 players so that we could have 4 outfielders?

By: Beezo-Doo-doo-Zippity-Bop-bop-bop

Beezo-Doo-doo-Zippity-Bop-bop-bop — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:27:54 +0000

Plus, pitchers by and large were the best players in grade school, high school and LL and probably were some of the best hitters. They get to college and the minors and are only allowed to work on pitching. By the time they get to the majors they have all but forgotten how to hit. Sad really. Eff the DH!

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:08:44 +0000

There are plenty of logical reasons to have Drive-ins. They are awesome!!! I am lucky enough to have one within 50 miles of where I live and we go at least 4 or 5 times a summer. Nothing like 2 or 3 first-run movies, good food, meeting the same people, and just all-around good times.

By: jarathen

jarathen — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:53:09 +0000

Exactly. At best, it’s a tactical wash. I can see how there are some interesting options earlier in the game, say the fifth to sixth innings, but after that any close game with a reliever is going to see the pitcher yanked every time through the lineup. Where’s the strategy in that?

By: Chipmaker

Chipmaker — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:39:36 +0000

I’m vaguely pro-DH — mostly I’m pro-things-are-fine-the-way-they-are, two sets of rules does not bother me — but when I encounter an anti-DHist who holds forth that with the DH managers stop using strategy because it kills the need for the double switch, I ask them to recall one memorable double switch.

Never yet gotten an answer.

The DH shifts tactical options from managing the bench to managing the bullpen.

By: jarathen

jarathen — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:06:57 +0000

This is the real reason. People wring their hands about having a defensive dynamo sitting on the pine during the offensive half of the inning, but a regular player will still get 400+ PA’s every season. Only workhorse starters will get half of that, and no one is going to ask a guy with a sore arm to take a few hours of batting practice every day between starts.

It’s not a matter of skill, though watching pitchers hit is awful and terrible and more than a little sad (really – those players look helpless, awkward, out of place, and often annoyed).. It’s a matter of opportunity. We hear all the time about how hitters need to develop a rhythm against live pitching, about how being jerked in and out of a lineup makes it hard for them to stay focused. Why would a guy playing once every five games ever become all that good offensively?

By: jarathen

jarathen — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:53:50 +0000

That’s what pitchers should do. Spend more time working on hitting instead of pitching.

By: nbjays

nbjays — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:44:46 +0000

…which only reinforces the need for a dedicated “Sarcasm Font”… seriously!

By: nbjays

nbjays — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:37:03 +0000

But what if said “utility player” is also “scrappy”?

By: nbjays

nbjays — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:31:02 +0000

Inconceivable!

By: xjokerz

xjokerz — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:16:34 +0000

I don’t like to see my tigers ace ever swinging the bat. Get with the time nl, your style of baseball is boring and a serious turn off

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:10:53 +0000

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:57:17 +0000

Yep, 9 on the field, 9 in the batting lineup, in the AL not necessarily the same 9.

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:55:14 +0000

Ditto.

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:42:09 +0000

Good first part, but had to thumbs down for the cheap shot at the end.

By: nightman13

nightman13 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:33:28 +0000

I didn’t really feel like reading through all the comments to see if anybody brought this up, so if they did, sorry.

Since there are some pitchers that can hit well, if the DH rule was expanded I think I’d like to see it apply to all positions rather than just pitchers.

If you have a great defensive shortstop that can’t hit worth a damn, but a pitcher than can, DH for the SS.

I don’t know how I really feel about that idea, I do prefer the NL and no DH, but if it has to change I think they should look at a broader change rather than just matching the NL to the AL.

By: 1historian

1historian — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:19:38 +0000

Solution – let each team – NL or AL – decide on a game by game basis whether or not they want to use a DH in that particular game. Once they decide they can’t go back on it.
Don’t make it so damn complicated.

By: iladel90

iladel90 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 03:58:10 +0000

Check out this fun free baseball game

http://brushbackbaseball.com/index.jsp?rf=1233

By: cadub49er

cadub49er — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:20:41 +0000

here’s a silly thought…why don’t teams teach pitchers to be better hitters? Then it would be more like 9 on 8. Having a pitcher who can hit .225-.275 would seem to be a huge advantage. Another novel idea….bunting seems to be something you can coach too, right?

By: lostsok

lostsok — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:19:31 +0000

Ok, DH…no DH…there are more important issues in the world.

But, seriously Craig? Human League?

Seek help. Immediately. Play Who’s Next and Exile On Mainstreet ten times each and for GOD sake stop drinking wine coolers while stroking your pet rock.

Human League. Jesus…

By: warpd

warpd — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:16:16 +0000

The Earth was flat once, now it’s round.

By: garlicfriesandbaseball

garlicfriesandbaseball — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:48:40 +0000

Sarcasm? Relief pitchers and DH? Get a grip man ~

By: Minoring In Baseball

Minoring In Baseball — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:36:58 +0000

I agree totally, Craig. The time has simply come, and let’s not forget the advantage this give the NL in the World Series. Having two sets of ‘rules’ determining a championship team has always seemed a little strange to me. Then you have the minors, where AL and NL affiliates play each other, some with the DH and some without. In baseball, there have been many ‘eras’, and that’s just they way the game has evolved. I, too, prefer pale-skinned brunettes and 80′s music, though, and that’s just my opinon. I do see the NL ‘traditionalist’ side of things, too.
-Mike
http://minoringinbaseball.com/

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:04:19 +0000

The DH should go and last time I checked pitchers are athletes too.

By: opshuns

opshuns — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:58:35 +0000

NO for DH…