30 replies to this topic

[Cubsin]

As noted in my recent post on the main board, I heard today on MLB Radio that "several" NL owners want to implement the DH rule in the National League. With more and more All-Star power hitters moving from the NL to the AL to get longer-term megadollar contracts, I think that it's an idea whose time has come.

I expect "Larry" Bud to push this idea to homogenize the rules of the game, and the Players Association will love it (because the average salary for a DH is higher than the average for all players).

If I'm not mistaken (and I often am), it would require the votes of ten of the NL owners (not counting Houston) to implement this change in 2013. The only team I see as likely to vote against the change is the Pirates.

If anyone wants to chime in on either the voting rules or other likely candidates to oppose the change, please do.

Please note that I'm not advocating this change, but I am now expecting it.

[Fishin Phil]

I'm with you. I don't want it, but I do think it is just a matter time.

[Stinky Pete]

In no way do I claim to be smarter than the folks actually involved with the game,
BUT
What happens in five years when Pujols turns 43 and Fielder weighs 600 lbs and both are full time DHs and among the highest paid players in the game? I feel like the owners will back off of the concept that they can give ridiculous contracts based on the fact that the player can just DH at the end of it.

[Brett]

Now that Bud is going to be around another two years, I can see it as more likely than it might have otherwise been. With the Astros going to the AL, and increased interleague play, I think you'll see the call for it by both leagues - the NL because they're tired of being at a disadvantage, and the AL because they're tired of forcing their pitchers to bat every now and again.

[dabynsky]

Now that Bud is going to be around another two years, I can see it as more likely than it might have otherwise been. With the Astros going to the AL, and increased interleague play, I think you'll see the call for it by both leagues - the NL because they're tired of being at a disadvantage, and the AL because they're tired of forcing their pitchers to bat every now and again.

This to me is what is going to force the hand on the issue. It is one thing for teams to play by two sets of rules for limited stretches of a season, but it is another with year long interleague coming. It will be a lot easier to add the DH to the NL than removing it from the AL because ultimately apart from a few traditional NL fans everyone wants it that way.

[Cubsin]

If the DL rule is passed, we'll all sleep better knowing that we won't have to worry about finding at-bats for LeHair, Rizzo and Vogelbach.

[sven-erik312]

Regards from the Land of Saabs & Volvos Folks
I'm a Cubs Ex Pat living in Sweden, I'v been here since 1992. Instead of adapting the DH rule as the American League has it, why not try this? How about having an 8 man batting order. You could still have the same rules apply as it relates to bringing in a pinch hitter who replaces the player that he batted for. Leonart Koppett brought up this idea in his discussion of the DH. It's in his book "A Thinking Fans Guide to Baseball". His point was that if you wanted to increase run production, increase the number of at bats for your whole line up.

[Brett]

Regards from the Land of Saabs & Volvos Folks
I'm a Cubs Ex Pat living in Sweden, I'v been here since 1992. Instead of adapting the DH rule as the American League has it, why not try this? How about having an 8 man batting order. You could still have the same rules apply as it relates to bringing in a pinch hitter who replaces the player that he batted for. Leonart Koppett brought up this idea in his discussion of the DH. It's in his book "A Thinking Fans Guide to Baseball". His point was that if you wanted to increase run production, increase the number of at bats for your whole line up.

It's a fun, different idea, but the Players Association would never go for it - it would put a number of otherwise well-paid players out of work.

[NormB]

The DH is inevitable for the National League. I used to be on the "keep the game pure" side of things, but I'm sick of seeing pitchers bat and I'm sick of seeing good pitchers pulled too early because they are coming up to bat, making teams rely on relief pitchers.
And there really isn't any "strategy" involved in the managers decisions, which seems to be the #1 argument against the DH.

[MichiganGoat]

Regards from the Land of Saabs & Volvos Folks
I'm a Cubs Ex Pat living in Sweden, I'v been here since 1992. Instead of adapting the DH rule as the American League has it, why not try this? How about having an 8 man batting order. You could still have the same rules apply as it relates to bringing in a pinch hitter who replaces the player that he batted for. Leonart Koppett brought up this idea in his discussion of the DH. It's in his book "A Thinking Fans Guide to Baseball". His point was that if you wanted to increase run production, increase the number of at bats for your whole line up.

It would also fuck up the records book if players got get an extra at-bat every game.

It's a fun, different idea, but the Players Association would never go for it - it would put a number of otherwise well-paid players out of work.

[Sam]

If the DL rule is passed, we'll all sleep better knowing that we won't have to worry about finding at-bats for LeHair, Rizzo and Vogelbach.

Not to mention we'd be able to DH Soriano. But Im not a big fan of the DH and I never have been. The DH, in my opinion, takes away from the character of the game. I think not having a DH makes the NL more strategic, it gives the bench/situational hitter a role, and it makes being an NL pitcher more difficult.

[FFP]

there really isn't any "strategy" involved in the managers decisions --NormB

Norm, could you explain?
and I don't like the DH for lots of reasons.
1. What Pete said (and sorry about Juan's recent passing, I'm sure he'd be happy to be living on in your avatar, SP)
2. Watching these specialists is like watching golf.
3. I'm tired of 3-plus hour games
4. Pitchers who pitch inside have less exposure to their own medicine.
5. Once you bring the DH rule in it is hard to get rid of.
6. I like watching all players hit. I wish I had seen Roger Clemens develop as a young hitter, too.

[justinjabs]

Boo DH ... I liked seeing Lilly mow down Molina, Z hitting a few home runs, Marquis getting a very unlikely grand slam. Those moments are even more exciting when it's the pitcher batting.

[NormB]

there really isn't any "strategy" involved in the managers decisions --NormB

Norm, could you explain?
and I don't like the DH for lots of reasons.
1. What Pete said (and sorry about Juan's recent passing, I'm sure he'd be happy to be living on in your avatar, SP)
2. Watching these specialists is like watching golf.
3. I'm tired of 3-plus hour games
4. Pitchers who pitch inside have less exposure to their own medicine.
5. Once you bring the DH rule in it is hard to get rid of.
6. I like watching all players hit. I wish I had seen Roger Clemens develop as a young hitter, too.

Regarding the "strategy"...think about any time a relief pitcher is brought it...how hard of a decision is it?
2) Aren't pitchers specialists? They only work on pitching, they don't work on hitting.
3) I'd love to see data on this. I would bet length of games aren't that much different between AL and NL games
4) If you're inferring that NL pitchers won't pitch inside because they might be pitched inside by the opposing pitcher, I'd have to question how legit that claim is. I think NL pitchers pitch inside just as often as AL pitchers.
5) It's nearly impossible to get rid of, which is why I think it's likely it will be in the NL so that the teams play by same rules.
6) I can honestly say that there is not a single pitcher in the history of baseball that I'm bummed I didn't get to see develop as a hitter.

[SirCub]

I tend to think that there is a fair amount of strategy involved in picking the right relief pitcher/pinch-hitter for a match up. Especially when you think of the game situation, defensive substitutions, players you have left in the bullpen/bench. I mean, it isn't rocket science, but it is one of the more strategic moments in any game. Think about it, what is the biggest impact that a manager can have on a game? I think it is clearly filling out the lineup card. He has to choose which players he wants going that day, and in what order, based on the matchup. With pinch-hitters involved, it basically gives the manager an opportunity to make an in-game adjustment to that lineup, most likely at a critical part of a game. That is an entire component that would be lost if you instituted the DH.