Designated Hitter in the National League? (Post #144: Proposed for 2020 Shortened Season)

[cesser000]

I used to be totally against the DH period, but I've pretty much 180'd the last few seasons. The Nelson injury was the last straw for me. Get it done for 2020!

[SeaBass]

I would also be shocked if they made such a major rule change with such short notice. I understand what the players are hoping to accomplish, but what's the rush? I think 2020 would be soon enough.

That's where I stand at the moment. I'm not super excited about adopting the DH universally, but why bring it up in February with an eye toward March implementation when NL teams would have to scramble to tweak their rosters?

 

I realize the pace of recent offseason markets has made it easier than before to make roster moves relatively late, but this seems like a big adjustment to make. (Mayyyybe less so for the Brewers)

I'm assuming it's being brought up in the context of implementing it in 2019 as a negotiation tactic for MLB wanting to install more pace of play rules changes to be implemented for 2019. Of course it doesn't make sense to do it right now but that's not really the point.

[SeaBass]

I used to be totally against the DH period, but I've pretty much 180'd the last few seasons. The Nelson injury was the last straw for me. Get it done for 2020!

Yeah, I can't really think of many reasons for keeping the status quo. Tradition? Ok sure but the logical reasons to make the change (even playing field for both leagues, avoiding pitcher injury) just seem to vastly outweigh the sentimental reasons for not making the change.

[RollieTime]

Adding it for 2020 makes a lot more sense than for 2019. We went through an entire offseason building a roster with guys that fit the team to operate without a DH.

 

If Stearns knew the DH was coming, he could of signed someone like Michael Brantley and moved Braun to DH. Changing it now after the offseason is done and the rosters are mostly set would not sit well with front offices in my opinion.

 

If the DH was implemented for 2019, then sign Moustakas right away knowing that he will give you quality at bats and be in the lineup everyday.

[Oxy]

I don't like watching pitchers hit. They are terrible at it. I don't like watching pitchers get hurt running the bases, they are terrible at it.

 

I am completely in favor of the DH.

 

Why stop with just one DH? Why not go all the way! Raise the rosters to 40 and have offense, defensive, and designated pinch runners. 9 DHs, 9 defenders, and designated pinch runners. That way NO good hitter ever gets hurt running the bases, you always have your best 9 hitters in the game and your best 8 defenders along with a pitcher. Players' union would love it because there would be more jobs.

Pitchers hit maybe twice a game in the NL. In the modern game there are every-day players who whiff 30-35% of their ABs and hit under .200 regularly. The uniqueness and strategy of the NL game far out weighs any argument for a DH.

 

Yep. The arguments FOR a DH are the ones that don't make sense. That said, since it's way too late to eliminate the DH, I'd 100% be in favor of the DH only for the starting pitcher idea mentioned several times in this thread.

 

This would be a slight concession to the traditionalists who really like the idea of starting pitchers and hate the idea of "bullpenning" as it would add incentive to leaving your starting pitcher in as long as possible in order to keep the DH in the game (or at least keep the DH from having to play the field).

 

It keeps almost all the strategy of the NL AND pretty much eliminates the possibility of pitchers having to hit. If you add a roster spot it would almost guarantee a pitcher never hits except in the case of extra inning games. If the AL is too addicted to their current permanent use of the DH, just have this rule in the NL for a few years to see how it works.

[stoutdude04]

I do like that idea Oxy.

 

I prefer the strategy of the NL, but I hate that both leagues play by different rules...

 

Add that the Brewers have had their fair share of odd pitcher injuries and I am ready for the DH.

[FVBrewerFan]

Let's just be done with it and call it softball. Hit and run is all but dead, stolen bases closely behind. Nobody can put down a sac bunt, the few times it's even tried. Now add DH, may as well out a keg at 2B. The manager can now turn in the lineup card and go home, because there is no strategy left in the game.

 

I realize nobody seems to care very much about that, but it's always been one of my favorite parts about baseball. I also know DH in NL is inevitable, shocked it hasn't happened by now actually.

[pacopete4]

Do pitching changes and pinch hitters not exist in the AL?

 

And bunting is dead because it’s dumb to give away outs in a lot of cases.

[nate82]

I for one welcome our new DH overlords!

[3and2Fastball]

Might coulda kept Domingo if we knew the DH was coming...

 

Probably won't happen until 2020 though

[Oxy]

Do pitching changes and pinch hitters not exist in the AL?

 

Pitching changes occur all too frequently as there is no regard whatsoever to how it affects the defense and batting lineup. Benches are full of specialized players who can do one or two things well and are never used except for that instance. This is true in the NL too, but players and managers are forced into more situations that make a complete, well-rounded baseball player more valuable even if he lacks an elite tool.

 

 

And bunting is dead because it’s dumb to give away outs in a lot of cases.

 

Yes, when your lineup is full of slow sluggers who can always hit a 3 run homer. It makes playing for 1 run in an inning a stupid strategic play. Playing for a single run makes for a much better game that emphasizes all the tools that are necessary for a complete baseball player--both offensively and defensively.

[Oxy]

Oddly, instead of changing the rules, one could just change the dimensions of the parks to emphasize certain skills. If all ballparks had the dimensions of the old Polo Grounds, there would be a lot of homers, doubles and triples--and having a speedy, toolsy, defensive outfield would be absolutely necessary.

[LouisEly]

Negotiations 101 - ask for more than you are willing to accept. They know that NL teams are not in position to adopt the DH in 2019. And they also know that there are some free agents still out there (Harper, Moustakas, etc.) who this could create demand for indirectly (move someone else to DH after signing these guys).

 

I like the idea of a limit on the number of plate appearances per DH. Keeps an element of strategy and defensive value.

[mtrebs]

I don't like watching pitchers hit. They are terrible at it. I don't like watching pitchers get hurt running the bases, they are terrible at it.

 

I am completely in favor of the DH.

 

Actually, some pitchers excel at getting hurt running the bases.

[walleye]

While I totally understand the reasons for the call of going to a MLB wide DH rule it make prefect sense for today’s baseball, however the baseball purist in me and the love of the chess game the happens later in games in games with the pitchers hitting would hate to lose that part of the game.

[Jenkins5]

I’ve been done with no DH since it was a useless & unnecessary way to destroy our up & coming Aces shoulder. Who knows if Jimmy will ever refind his 2017 form.

 

DH gives a big Bat like Thames a spot without having to play OF. It can help young guys get in lineup more. When we had Khris Davis & Santana, we wouldn’t have to suffer through awful defense (Davis’s arm still grades out as one of worst in all baseball averaging about 78 mph on competitive throws)

 

I use to love interleague where we would call up Fielder or a Gamel to get pro ABs. The way interleague has been blended year round and not really a big deal anymore like it use to, don’t see need to keep them different. I get strategy & peoples love for it but I love runs & the longball. Having to watch guys like Ben Sheets go to the plate is awful. Some look as useless as if I was out there.

 

Kind of surprised, thought more people would want it however, valid reasons why not to. Guess it is all about what you enjoy about watching baseball. I don’t think it hurts the game & strategy nearly as much as the two other big discussions on eliminating shifts & making a reliever pitch an inning or to 3 batters minimum. As a former (but terrible) lefty reliever, hate to see my LOOGYs get shafted

[rickh150]

I don't like watching pitchers hit. They are terrible at it. I don't like watching pitchers get hurt running the bases, they are terrible at it.

 

I am completely in favor of the DH.

 

Why stop with just one DH? Why not go all the way! Raise the rosters to 40 and have offense, defensive, and designated pinch runners. 9 DHs, 9 defenders, and designated pinch runners. That way NO good hitter ever gets hurt running the bases, you always have your best 9 hitters in the game and your best 8 defenders along with a pitcher. Players' union would love it because there would be more jobs.

Pitchers hit maybe twice a game in the NL. In the modern game there are every-day players who whiff 30-35% of their ABs and hit under .200 regularly. The uniqueness and strategy of the NL game far out weighs any argument for a DH.

 

Yep. The arguments FOR a DH are the ones that don't make sense. That said, since it's way too late to eliminate the DH, I'd 100% be in favor of the DH only for the starting pitcher idea mentioned several times in this thread.

 

This would be a slight concession to the traditionalists who really like the idea of starting pitchers and hate the idea of "bullpenning" as it would add incentive to leaving your starting pitcher in as long as possible in order to keep the DH in the game (or at least keep the DH from having to play the field).

 

It keeps almost all the strategy of the NL AND pretty much eliminates the possibility of pitchers having to hit. If you add a roster spot it would almost guarantee a pitcher never hits except in the case of extra inning games. If the AL is too addicted to their current permanent use of the DH, just have this rule in the NL for a few years to see how it works.

 

Sounds great.....

[LouisEly]

When we had Khris Davis

You had to mention that didn't you... can you imagine Davis in the middle of that lineup last year? 48 HRs with half of his games in Oakland (and a bunch in Seattle, San Francisco, etc.). Put that in Miller park for 81 games, and another big RH bat against Chicago's (and LA's) lefties...

[rickh150]

Santana would be nice as a DH too.

[Jenkins5]

When we had Khris Davis

You had to mention that didn't you... can you imagine Davis in the middle of that lineup last year? 48 HRs with half of his games in Oakland (and a bunch in Seattle, San Francisco, etc.). Put that in Miller park for 81 games, and another big RH bat against Chicago's (and LA's) lefties...

 

There is a sleeping giant I haven’t seen post yet... thought I’d wake him up for one of those frequent Khris Davis trade rants but really only reason he was traded was there where better defensive options & no DH. When I guy struggles to get ball from LF to cutoff & teams can run all day on... Brewers didn’t have a choice. But man, those runs would have been nice!

 

Good news if it passes for this season, Nottingham can finally get his ABs to see what is actually is! My arguments with Briggs these past few years all go out window if he just sucks at MLB level.... fought to long in support of trade to lose as has many others ha

[Tbadder]

I’m saddened by the short-sightedness of the proposal. Another idea that makes it harder on small market teams. Baseball used to be unique—everyone had to run, throw, hit, field—now,well, I’m just disgusted. But as I’ve said before all good things come to an end. When it happens I will no longer follow the game. Strike out, home run, strike out, home run—it’s like watching a metronome. You know there was a time when baseball was the sport of the thinking person. At this point I hope you DH lovers get what you want. Two hour games that end 12-11 with a walk off. Sorry to vent. I know progress is good, but the genericizing of the game will never be progress. BORING.

[Tbadder]

You know I really hate that idea that since pitchers are bad at hitting they shouldn’t hit. Then never go to a little league game or a high school game or even a college game—they’re almost all bad at hitting, pitching, running, etc. I’m a Chinooks season tix holder maybe I should forget about them. Maybe we should run all the major leaguers outta the league who are below average hitters—tell that to Omar Vizquel.

[Jenkins5]

I’m saddened by the short-sightedness of the proposal. Another idea that makes it harder on small market teams. Baseball used to be unique—everyone had to run, throw, hit, field—now,well, I’m just disgusted. But as I’ve said before all good things come to an end. When it happens I will no longer follow the game. Strike out, home run, strike out, home run—it’s like watching a metronome. You know there was a time when baseball was the sport of the thinking person. At this point I hope you DH lovers get what you want. Two hour games that end 12-11 with a walk off. Sorry to vent. I know progress is good, but the genericizing of the game will never be progress. BORING.

 

I honestly have zero issue or boredom of watching the Red Sox or many other AL teams. I don’t think Brewers before the switch to NL was awful either. Now I get you hate the no bunting, running, and such but DH doesn’t wreck baseball. Plenty of great rotations & pens out there. Just because there is a DH doesn’t completely destroy the game. I’ve never heard AL complain about how awful baseball is.

 

Only issue I have is if they take away swifts & control bullpen usage just to speed up game. There is no need for it. Watching pitchers hit is brutal. Watching pitchers get injuried on baseballs or at the plate even worse. Guy hurts arm throwing so be it. At the plate or bases though, that’s just foolish in my eyes. MadBum missing month or two broken hand. Nelson missing over a year for sliding.... all preventable. You don’t want 12-11 games.... stop putting aces in harms way intentionally. They don’t spend enough time on hitting & baserunning. They focus on what’s important....their pitching

[502 to Right]

I used to be a baseball purist and hated the DH.

 

Now I'm a pragmatist and realize I don't want to see a pitcher hitting any more than I want to see a left fielder pitching. It's stupid and pointless.

 

As for those saying having a pitcher hit leads to more "strategy," c'mon man! A trained monkey can pull off a double switch. There's not much strategy there to be had. For every 5th inning, "do I pinch hit for the pitcher?" scenario you have a 7th inning two runners on, two outs, and the pitcher due up next scenario. The manager is pulling the pitcher regardless of how well he's pitching. In that case you are being robbed of strategy and wise judgment.

 

However, they should only bring the DH into the NL with a 2-3 year lead time so GM's in the NL can best set up their teams for the rule change.

[Bob Skube Snacks]

I loved the Brewers just fine when they played with a DH until 1997. I’ll love them just fine if they go back to using it.

 

And the “strategy” in the NL is the most overrated red herring foisted upon us by baseball fans.

 

Most of it what’s called “strategy” isn’t strategy at all, it’s obligation forced on managers because of a black hole in the lineup. There’s no big brains at work with NL bullpen management either. In the AL, you have to manage your bullpen around the matchups without that black hole in the lineup.

 

As far as pinch-hitting is concerned? Every manager chooses the right LHP/RHP vs. LHB/RHB split or chooses a player who happens to hit a certain pitcher well.

 

That’s not strategy. That’s called reading a spreadsheet.

 

The strategy in baseball takes place on the pitch-to-pitch level. Not in the obvious decisions that anyone with half-a-brain can make.