Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 29, 2008
Against the DH

Via Baseball Think Factory, a good rant against the designated hitter:

The usual defense of the DH is that it allows old, washed-up ballplayers, or younger, injured ones, or just tubby ones who have trouble bending over to pick up a ground ball, to extend their careers and allow their many fans more chances to see them display their batting skills. I am unmoved by their plight. Let them get out of the way and make room for the young, new stars waiting for their chance to shine. It's time for the old guys to make the acquaintance of Warren Buffet and various Wall Street investment banker types.

Posted by David Pinto at 12:09 PM | Fan Rant | TrackBack (0)
Comments

In defense of the DH -- while I do agree that keeping the old, overweight guys around is not justification for the DH, as an AL fan, I've come to appreciate it because it allows a good starting pitcher to stay in the game when he's throwing well.

I get annoyed watching a world series game that's maybe 2-1 or 3-2 in the fifth inning, with a couple of ace starting pitchers going at it. Because the manager needs to pinch-hit, we now have to watch a stream of no-name middle relievers for four innings instead of the guy we really want to watch.

Everyone remembers Jack Morris vs. John Smoltz, and I've heard that lauded as one of the great World Series games of all-time. Don't forget that if that game had been played in Atlanta, both starters would have been gone by the 7th.

Posted by: tom at January 29, 2008 12:26 PM

yeah, nothing against that argument, but i'd rather watch a tubby old guy trying to hit than a clueless pitcher.

i think "the usual defense" of the DH is that it takes an automatic out out of the lineup, making games more exciting.

"the usual argument against" the DH is that there is more strategy when pitchers are forced to hit.

I can see both sides, but this argument seemed based on an incorrect idea of what the issues regarding the DH are.

Posted by: patrick at January 29, 2008 12:48 PM

I usually disagree with the premise of these DH arguments, because they present it as an either/or issue -- the DH is either good for all or bad for all. But I happen to like the current set-up: one league has the DH, one doesn't. It's one of the few remaining bits of distinctiveness between the two leagues.

Posted by: Brian Gunn at January 29, 2008 01:07 PM

Why should two leagues in the same sport play by different rules? I'm an NL guy, so of course I hate the DH. The NL teams are at a distinct disadvantage. The NL's DH is usually a 4th outfielder or a #1 pinch hitter.

Posted by: Boomer at January 29, 2008 01:29 PM

boomer - you make a very interesting point, but you can also argue that AL teams are at a disadvantage because a huge chunk of their payroll is wasted when playing at NL parks during the series.

regardless, i'd say there are fewer than 8 DHs who are actually better than 4th outfielders in the NL.

Posted by: patrick at January 29, 2008 02:18 PM

An old lady beating a rug has a better swing than some pitchers.

I wonder what he'd have thought of the DH if say, it was introduced in 1963 and it would have saved Mantle's legs, giving him a few more years?

Posted by: Mike S. at January 29, 2008 06:22 PM

If the pitchers were better hitters, I might go for the DH-less senior circuit's version of the game. But let's remember, the DH didn't come out of nowhere. Two generations ago the powers that be said, this is stupid, what a waste of time to allow so much of the game to turn on a single batter (the pitcher) who can't friggin' hit. And so, the DH was born. I tend to agree with those men. Carlos Zambrano aside, it's fairly stupid and boring to watch pitchers try to hit.

Posted by: Ben at January 30, 2008 02:07 AM

The DH is one of the reasons the AL is head and shoulders over the NL - it forces your team to be stronger and gives you more flexibility. I don't necessarily disagree with the purist arguments but the reality is it's here to stay.

Posted by: Bandit at January 30, 2008 10:14 AM

for more Pro DH talk, check out this link:
http://baseballreflections.com/2008/01/26/the-use-of-the-dh-in-mlb/

Posted by: Peter at January 30, 2008 11:46 AM

I'm one of those fools who wishes the NL would adopt the DH. Ever since moving to an NL city, I feel cheated every time I see a pitcher fling his bat across the plate chasing the impossible dream of a mere single.

Posted by: Chris at January 30, 2008 02:02 PM
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