Time for universal DH in both leagues

[stevenash]

With the Astros now in the AL, that make an odd number (15) of teams in each league, and as a result we have an interleague series each and every week.

Now, I am a traditionalist, I believe pitchers should bat, but I am also about change, and since the union will never back down from DH in the AL, it's time for the NL to adopt the DH rule, this way, the playing field is even (pardon the pun) when AL teams visit the NL parks in aforementioned interleague games.

[frogsrangers]

I have always been against the DH

If you don't play in the field you don't get to hit

It allows steroid freaks like David Ortiz to get away with being able to inject since they don't need to worry about their athleticism or being in shape to be able to play in the field

Ortiz should never make the hall, for two reasons, one he cheated with steroids, two he played no defense at all

[Big Bear]

fukk that. The day that happens is the day i quit watching baseball.

The DH is un-American.

[frogsrangers]

I am a fan of an American League team and I hate the DH

[ChalkyDog]

Time for the AL to nut up and void a position they created.

Allows hacks to stack stats and make them seem better than they are, on top of the obvious bullshit of avoiding having your pitcher hit.

[stevenash]

^
I agree with all of you, the DH sucks, that's why way over the hill Jason Giambi is still in the game and has a job.
Let the pitchers hit, think twice about coming inside and buzzing someone, not only that, pitchers hitting changes the strategy of how to manage a game, for the better, but it's not going to happen, so just get it over with and let NL have the DH too.

[Dan Kelly]

The DH is the worst rule change in the history of sport and needs to be reversed. Any thoughful fan could list a hundred reasons why baseball is better without the DH but, sadly, Steve is correct it is all about the fat, old, phucks that can only hit => and their ilk control the players union. BUT, at some time in the future, a strong commissioner might still come along who could have an opportunity to make a deal with MLBPA and save baseball for boys who like to play and think. That's why we have to fight tooth and nail until the bitter end against universal implementation of the DH.

BOL

[stevenash]

BUT, at some time in the future, a strong commissioner might still come along who could have an opportunity to make a deal with MLBPA and save baseball for boys who like to play and think.

If I was to succeed corrupt used car salesman Selig, I give the union a 26th player in the dugout for both league, in exchange for the DH abolishment.

Union gain a salary that they would lose in the DH.
Maybe a stipulation on the 26th man, like a 'cap as on how much he can make, but that's complicated.

[joseph0228]

Used to be adamantly against the DH, now find myself not caring so much. I doubt Ortiz will be in the Hall, seeing that none of the other steroid sluggers are making it in -- hell, Mcgwire received only 30 percent or something like that? If the steroid scandal never existed, though (lolololol), I wouldn't have any problem with DHs being in the Hall of Fame. Take a player like Piazza who hit over .300 in his career and slammed over 400 homers but was one of the worst defensive catchers in the game. He hurt his team by playing defense. A player like Ortiz who put up slightly similar only helped his team. Well, except when he had to play first base.

[Bcatswin]

I say keep it original and have Pitchers bat, do kids grow up today anywhere until major league ball not batting for themselves if they are a pitcher? Buy who knows things are changing hence the Replay System. I believe Pete's ban should be lifted before this is addressed.

[Dan Kelly]

Pete is in my Hall of Fame, and anyone who perpetuates the abortion that is called DH is not.


BOL

[You mad bro]

who gets excited when a pitcher comes up to the plate?

90% of them will probably go 0-3 in a 3 at bat span ..

9% of them might get 1 hit and then there is the ...... wait for it

....

....

1% = bartolo colon type pitchers who dont even know how to hold a bat

[TheMoneyShot]

Guess I was just born with the DH in my head from watching the Detroit Tigers my entire life?

I kind of like it. I think the pitcher is your bread and butter on the team. It's like an isolated position. I always thought the DH was designed to protect the pitcher? Isn't that the entire point?

I'd like to keep the DH and... and maybe the NL would like to try it? Nothing wrong with it.

[posey]

@TMS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_hitter#Background_and_history

[Mr KLC]

Houston Astros fan here. Grew up on the National League, and was pretty pissed when we had to go over. That being said, I kind of like the DH now. I like the way the Astros utilize it. They use it as more of a position to give a player the night off in the field, when Chris Carter is not playing. I also like the fact that Bo Porter puts a speedster in the #9 slot, so his lead off hitter could have a possible RBI opportunity after a stolen base. Goalies are specialists in bother hockey, and soccer. Nothing wrong, IMO, for the pitchers to do the same in baseball.

[Big Bear]

I say keep it original and have Pitchers bat, do kids grow up today anywhere until major league ball not batting for themselves if they are a pitcher? Buy who knows things are changing hence the Replay System. I believe Pete's ban should be lifted before this is addressed.

drinking already?

[joseph0228]

Can't say I really "like" the DH but when you play with a DH in college and most of the time in the minors, it's rather frivolous to start doing it in the majors. I've been a fan of the National League all my life, though, and it's hard to imagine it being any different.

[ChalkyDog]

who gets excited when a pitcher comes up to the plate?

90% of them will probably go 0-3 in a 3 at bat span ..

9% of them might get 1 hit and then there is the ...... wait for it

....

....

1% = bartolo colon type pitchers who dont even know how to hold a bat

I love watching pitchers hit.

[jjgold]

baseball is becoming a dead game regardless
very few guys even bat 300 anymore

stadiums empty

games to long

[You mad bro]

I love watching pitchers hit.

It's embarrassing that most of them don't even know how to swing

[stevenash]

stadiums empty

JJ, we have had this talk before

Look at all these 30,000 home *averages*

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance/_/sort/homePct

Stadiums hardly empty

[stealthyburrito]

baseball is becoming a dead game regardless
very few guys even bat 300 anymore

stadiums empty

games to long

empty

half the league averages over 30k fans

[jjgold]

most kids in NY cannot name 2 Yankees anymore

[Mr KLC]

Chris Paddack on the DH: "I'm upset I can't get a Silver Slugger. But I think it'll help us in the long run." (Paddack hit .119 last year.)

[sosawestbrook]

we will look back and wonder why this wasn't implemented sooner. as much as I love my national league baseball, this is the right move for the game.