The NL Needs the DH

Just my preference. I like the strategy, and I feel that it rewards deeper teams (the need for a deep bullpen, effective pinch hitters, and a versatile bench).

By the way, you forgot to join the Marlins SBNation blog in the last 20 minutes, to shill this article onto.

...let’s put training wheels on the NL too!

It makes just as much sense, if not more, to simply eliminate the DH rule in the AL. American League games are boring; their managers could turn in their line-up cards and go home, with the pitching coaches handling any bullpen action. I’d rather watch starters battle to extend a start in order to better use a pinch hitter or the use of a double-switch in the event that he can’t than old sluggers that can’t field extended their careers as designated hitters. I’m sure the next advance will come in basketball, when the designated free throw shooter will make Shaq-like players truly unstoppable. Progress!

GO HOME HANK

One thing that I’ve always wondered about the DH is why limit it to pitchers? For instance, if a team has Micah Owings and, say, Corky Miller as catcher, could the team DH for Corky, as Owings has proven to be a far superior hitter than Corky? Why not? Isn’t that what the DH is for anyway? Get rid of bad hitters in favor of more exciting hitters?

What would be even MORE exciting, however, is just to do like football, have separate players on offense and defense! That way, players can focus on only one skill. I mean, what does hitting have in common with fielding anyway? If players focused on only fielding, how many more spectacular plays would there be? And, all each team would need is only four hitters, so think about the best four hitters on each team hitting over and over and over! How exciting would that be?! No need to pinch-hit anymore either, with such quality bats!

Ridiculous? Of course it is! And that’s what happens when we do things for the sake of “excitement!” If you like the DH, go watch a softball game.

...very little in the game of baseball is more exciting or breath-taking than watching a pitcher dominate the opposition, locked in, and mowing down batter after batter after batter.

People who want the DH to appear in the NL probably also want pitchers to hone their skills, focus on a few pitches, and commit to pitching only for 4 years, so that they can throw all their future out along with their arm for one inning of relief.

Its funny though, set-up men and specialty relievers are newish too. They also compromise the integrity of the game. I hate the fact that people are groomed for one inning of play. But it happens, and I have to accept it. Most likely the DH WILL come to the NL, we should probably start thinking about it anyway.

The DH is like having someone shoot free throws for Shaq or Wilt.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!