The DH

voodoo_blues · 06-16-2012, 01:44 PM

While it's inter-league time in MLB this debate always comes up.

Why do NL fans hate the idea of the DH so much? I mean if the style they play is so great, go to the AL parks and forfeit your right to the DH. It's a perfectly legal move. Enough with rally killing pitchers taking to the plate. It's time for the NL to join the rest of the baseball world and go with the DH. If you have a pitcher who can hit, then use him.

guidomerkinsrules · 06-16-2012, 02:45 PM

nba should also have a rule wherein a 3pt specialist stands at halfcourt and can run in once the ball passes the backcourt line he pops in for better offensive possibilities - this will also save your manute bol like big man from running up and down the court

win win

Capn_Morgan · 06-16-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guidomerkinsrules

nba should also have a rule wherein a 3pt specialist stands at halfcourt and can run in once the ball passes the backcourt line he pops in for better offensive possibilities - this will also save your manute bol like big man from running up and down the court

win win

And why are pitchers the only ones that have DHs? Every player should be able to have one. In fact, why can't one player just bat for everyone. Fans would get to see the team's best hitter at all times, and the opposing pitcher gets to say only one guy was able to hit his pitches.

win win

cdogg · 06-16-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guidomerkinsrules

nba should also have a rule wherein a 3pt specialist stands at halfcourt and can run in once the ball passes the backcourt line he pops in for better offensive possibilities - this will also save your manute bol like big man from running up and down the court

win win

But only teams in the West get this player, the East has to player regular ball, until the finals when it goes to the home team, which is completely fair because no way the team from the West has a high paid player whose only job is that, while the East teams can't afford to have a high paid player who only plays all season in the 7 game finals....

blackngold4877 · 06-16-2012, 04:39 PM

The fact that no NL teams opts to have their pitcher hit when playing in an AL park tells you all you need to know about this. Baseball has too many "purists" and the DH rule is the biggest gripe but let's be honest it makes the games more exciting. NO ONE likes seeing their pitcher come up to hit with runners on, especially with more than 1 out. Yeah great, bunt the runners over.. let's waste an out in the name of "strategy," screw that. I don't want to see bunting before the 7th inning ever. Oh but then they often pinch hit for the pitchers and pull the double switch which apparently is such an amazing concept the analysts act like AL teams can't adapt to it in NL parks; they seem to do just fine.

guidomerkinsrules · 06-16-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackngold4877

The fact that no NL teams opts to have their pitcher hit when playing in an AL park tells you all you need to know about this. Baseball has too many "purists" and the DH rule is the biggest gripe but let's be honest it makes the games more exciting. NO ONE likes seeing their pitcher come up to hit with runners on, especially with more than 1 out.

untrue - one of my favorite memories is seeing rick sutcliffe bat in a scoring situation (maybe 7th inning, runner on, down by 1 - something like that)
don zimmer let him hit - he got his single then was pulled for a pinch runner
cool
granted as a cub fan you i don't have oodles of favorite memories, but still

cdogg · 06-16-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackngold4877

The fact that no NL teams opts to have their pitcher hit when playing in an AL park tells you all you need to know about this. Baseball has too many "purists" and the DH rule is the biggest gripe but let's be honest it makes the games more exciting. NO ONE likes seeing their pitcher come up to hit with runners on, especially with more than 1 out. Yeah great, bunt the runners over.. let's waste an out in the name of "strategy," screw that. I don't want to see bunting before the 7th inning ever. Oh but then they often pinch hit for the pitchers and pull the double switch which apparently is such an amazing concept the analysts act like AL teams can't adapt to it in NL parks; they seem to do just fine.

So you think it's fair when the World Series comes around that AL teams have DH's like David Ortiz, while NL teams have to use 4th outfielders or utility players?

blackngold4877 · 06-16-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdogg

So you think it's fair when the World Series comes around that AL teams have DH's like David Ortiz, while NL teams have to use 4th outfielders or utility players?

That isnt whats being debated here, the topic is why do NL fans hate the DH. It's ridiculous that both leagues have separate rules, it should be one way or the other but I feel it should be the DH in both. Honestly if Selig came out tonight and said the NL could use the DH all the time how many pitchers would be hitting tomorrow? None.

voodoo_blues · 06-16-2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdogg

So you think it's fair when the World Series comes around that AL teams have DH's like David Ortiz, while NL teams have to use 4th outfielders or utility players?

It's not even comparable to the other way around. Who would you rather have hit. A pitcher that hits about .130 or a utility guy that hits .230? But yet the AL teams are FORCED to use their pitcher, while the NL teams can use whoever they want from their lineup in the DH role, including their own pitcher.

I guess the NL and the the Central League in the NPB (Japan's equivalent to the MLB) got it right, and EVERY other league in the world has it wrong.

cdogg · 06-16-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo_blues

It's not even comparable to the other way around. Who would you rather have hit. A pitcher that hits about .130 or a utility guy that hits .230? But yet the AL teams are FORCED to use their pitcher, while the NL teams can use whoever they want from their lineup in the DH role, including their own pitcher.

I guess the NL and the the Central League in the NPB (Japan's equivalent to the MLB) got it right, and EVERY other league in the world has it wrong.

When in an AL park, the AL team usually has a big time hitter in that role, while the NL team has a utility guy = advantage AL team. In the NL parks both teams use their pitcher, who most likely stink the same = advantage noone. So it's unfair to the NL teams right now.

voodoo_blues · 06-16-2012, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdogg

When in an AL park, the AL team usually has a big time hitter in that role, while the NL team has a utility guy = advantage AL team. In the NL parks both teams use their pitcher, who most likely stink the same = advantage noone. So it's unfair to the NL teams right now.

A NL pitcher especially one with some experience is going to be better than an AL pitcher at hitting. And why would any club only carry 8 good position players? I just watched Jim Thome in the DH spot hit against the Orioles last weekend. The NL teams are doing just fine. And again if the non-DH is so great, come to the AL parks and use your pitcher. The fact that no one will stand up and agree with that statement just makes me realize NL fans only want to seem like they are more of a purist than the AL fans. You know it's more exciting to watch a pitcher throw against a DH than the opposing pitcher. But go ahead, have your boring chess matches. Once the inter-league play is done, I'll be back to watching the excitement of the AL teams, especially the AL East where my team resides.

voodoo_blues · 06-16-2012, 05:58 PM

The reason I started this was because of the bore-fest I had to witness last night between the O's and Braves. To watch both teams have rallies killed by their pitcher was just ridiculous. There was that phrase we use to use on the ball field when we were kids..... "EASY OUT" Yep, excitement folks!

antipop · 06-16-2012, 06:07 PM

if you are on the field as a defensive player, you should have to be as an offensive player

the DH is a pansy rule

voodoo_blues · 06-16-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antipop

if you are on the field as a defensive player, you should have to be as an offensive player

the DH is a pansy rule

It's not even about that. It's about how awful it is to watch a professional athlete being so inept at doing his job. I'm all for getting rid of the DH if all pitchers took the time to learn how to hit and run the bases properly.

blackngold4877 · 06-16-2012, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antipop

if you are on the field as a defensive player, you should have to be as an offensive player

the DH is a pansy rule

So in a hockey game when there is a delayed penalty or the team losing late needs more offense should the goalie have to skate up the ice and participate? No they replace him with a skater. Pitchers to me are like goalies, strictly defense.