the designated hitter rule

[Mudcat]

Thought I would take the temperature of the room on this question.

Me, I'm FOR. I say to hell with any kind of "sports purist" notions. The higher scoring American League works better for my betting systems and I would like nothing better than to have the National League switch to the DH.

[tacomax]

I like the one with/one without option, nice and quirky. Nice to see some pitchers being able to hit the ball out of the park. Also nice to see some pitchers not know one end of the bat from the other.

[Willie Bee]

I've always been against it...call me a purist, stubborn, whatever.

My position is either get rid of it and play with your 9-man defensive lineup, or go completely the other way and set an offensive and defensive lineup.

I compare the DH in baseball to the NBA allowing a designated free throw shooter in basketball.

[BuddyBear]

it's one of the stupidest rules i've ever seen in any sport...they should get rid of it by the end of the week.

[bigboydan]

the AL fans are kinda of being cheated here if you think about it.

the fans will never see the double switches as they were intended to be used for. there shouldn't be any reason for any pinch hitters in the AL either. yes i do know they use pinch hitters in the AL, but it's not the same thing.

[Illusion]

The players union will never allow MLB to get rid of it. It's one of the highest paid positions. I wish they would get rid of it however.

[The Great One]

A little off topic, but I've always thought it was interesting that in high school and sometimes college and definately Little league, the pitchers seems to be the best hitters on the team, but in the majors, pitchers can't hit to save their lives.

[Winston Smith]

the AL fans are kinda of being cheated here if you think about it.

the fans will never see the double switches as they were intended to be used for. there shouldn't be any reason for any pinch hitters in the AL either. yes i do know they use pinch hitters in the AL, but it's not the same thing.

It's sad, too. Because standing around outside an NL ballpark, it's impossible not to overhear a 9-year-old boy eagerly asking his father if he'll get to see a double switch tonight.

[presley177]

I'm personally torn on it... but i'll lean more towards favoring the DH. Players careers last much longer being able to DH. Edgar Martinez had many years hitting .300+ every year..yet he could hardly play the field because of injuries/etc.

If you take out the DH you'd basically be cutting some player's careers short 5 or more years.

[Willie Bee]

If you take out the DH you'd basically be cutting some player's careers short 5 or more years.

In other words, they'd be playing by the same rules as hitters like Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle and Harry Heilman.

[The Great One]

In other words, they'd be playing by the same rules as hitters like Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle and Harry Heilman.

Yeah, that never happened though.

[onlooker]

Im all for it and think the NL should switch to the DH. I hate it when my team has a ralley going and the pitcher is up. Its basically like having 7 hitters, because that 8th slot is usually a low .200 hitter.

[bigboydan]

ask david ortiz if he thinks the DH rule is fair or not. he only lost the MVP because he was stereo-typed as a DH last year.

[onlooker]

ask david ortiz if he thinks the DH rule is fair or not. he only lost the MVP because he was stereo-typed as a DH last year.

With the contract he got, Im sure he dont mind. Only fields in interleague. Not a bad.

[Willie Bee]

Im all for it and think the NL should switch to the DH. I hate it when my team has a ralley going and the pitcher is up. Its basically like having 7 hitters, because that 8th slot is usually a low .200 hitter.

So why not take it the next step and have a DH for that 8-hole swinger?

And Dan, go put a skirt on next time you're going to start crying for poor Papi's mistreatment by the media who voted on that award. I agree that a DH shouldn't be penalized for the way he's slotted in a lineup. But at the same time, when the numbers are as close as they were between him and A-Rod in 2005, and one of the players can't catch a cold in the dead of winter while the other is a top-line infielder, the more complete ballplayer is going to, and should, win it each and everytime.

[moses millsap]

The DH rule blows. Make all pitchers hit.

[moses millsap]

It's sad, too. Because standing around outside an NL ballpark, it's impossible not to overhear a 9-year-old boy eagerly asking his father if he'll get to see a double switch tonight.

It is sad

[totobernal]

dont you think its enough that the pitchers are already making all the effort of pitching and tiring his fragile arm, and now you want to make him hit the ball?

[slacker00]

I watch maybe 3 baseball games a year.

That said, get rid of the DH. Watching a pitcher hit is the best thing baseball has to offer me. It's like watching a kicker having to get involved during a kick return. I get to imagine for a microsecond that I can bat/tackle better than that!

[onlooker]

So why not take it the next step and have a DH for that 8-hole swinger?

Good idea.

[knicknut]

I'm against. Having a pitcher that is able to hit becomes an attribute that can help your team, and, more importantly, there is more lineup strategy with double switches, pinch hitters, facing the "do I lose this great pitcher for next inning, or do I have to let him hit during this rally" dilemma, etc.