Manfred: DH in NL gaining momentum.

[mqt]

The way it's set up now honestly hurts the NL. With interleague play taking place more often, AL teams have a distinct advantage because it's reasonable to roster a DH only type, whereas the NL teams just slot in a bench guy for AL-park games. On the other hand, since pitchers all suck pretty equally at hitting, the NL teams gain no real advantage in NL-park games. Teams like the Dodgers can afford to have an expensive bench, so it can lead to a better chance in the standings by a few games at least.

 

[VirginiaBrave]

Nobody has a rational argument against it???? I have yet to hear a rational argument for it. No one can answer my simple question as to why? All they will say is it has to happen. Tell me why? It's only the neo-fan clamoring for it!!! That would be the fan too young to have seen the ball go through Bill Buckner's legs in the '86 WS. Ask anybody born before 1990 and they are against it. People that are for it are like modern day NASCAR fans they think that sport begins and ends with Earnhardt and are only there to see the wrecks.

 

[VirginiaBrave]

I hate AL, four-hour, no strategy, DH baseball. The pitcher offering a quick out six times a game is one reason the NL can keep the game close to the three-hour time frame. If this happens, which I agree the game will likely evolve to one day, games will have to start at 6-7 p.m.

It will be a sad day. But I call bull**** on anyone who says they will give up baseball.

I might. I have no interest in 4+ hour marathons. I am getting older and my priorities are starting to change. For example I used to never miss a game on tv win or lose. As of late though I miss a lot of those weekday afternoon starts.

 

[Enscheff]

There is not much strategy in pinch hitting for your pitcher in the 7th with the best hitter on your bench, so I wish folks would stop acting like NL baseball is some sort of chess game.

There is nothing exciting about watching a pitcher hit. There is no strategy involved in telling a pitcher to bunt. I would rather see David Ortiz bat 4 times in a game rather than watch a pitcher strike out twice, lay down a sac bunt, and then watch some mediocre bench player bat one time as a pinch hitter.

The bulk of the strategy in baseball comes from setting lineups based on match ups and platoon advantages. That type of strategy is still fully in play with a DH, and nobody has to watch a pitcher flail away at the plate and get fist bumps when he manages to lay down a bunt.

AL teams are better than NL teams, and they spend significantly more on payroll...because of the DH. It's a relative no-brainer to implement the DH from the NL owners' (better the team vs AL) and players' (more salary) point of view.

 

[VirginiaBrave]

There is not much strategy in pinch hitting for your pitcher in the 7th with the best hitter on your bench, so I wish folks would stop acting like NL baseball is some sort of chess game.

There is nothing exciting about watching a pitcher hit. There is no strategy involved in telling a pitcher to bunt. I would rather see David Ortiz bat 4 times in a game rather than watch a pitcher strike out twice, lay down a sac bunt, and then watch some mediocre bench player bat one time as a pinch hitter.

The bulk of the strategy in baseball comes from setting lineups based on match ups and platoon advantages. That type of strategy is still fully in play with a DH, and nobody has to watch a pitcher flail away at the plate and get fist bumps when he manages to lay down a bunt.

AL teams are better than NL teams, and they spend significantly more on payroll...because of the DH. It's a relative no-brainer to implement the DH from the NL owners' (better the team vs AL) and players' (more salary) point of view.

Your whole post except the last part is an opinion so that really isn't a satisfactory answer to my question.

 

[rico43]

Your whole post except the last part is an opinion so that really isn't a satisfactory answer to my question.

No, the Players Association is also in favor of it, because a fulltime DH makes a lot more than a bench reserve.
I have long been against it, but when I saw Wainwright tear his Achilles merely trying to get out of the box this past yaer, I began to consider that it's time. Yet another generation of young players has come along that grew up with DHs, so the game to them is the AL-style. We old war horses are in danger of becoming dinosaurs when we fail to see and know the feeling of those who play the game.

 

[VirginiaBrave]

No, the Players Association is also in favor of it, because a fulltime DH makes a lot more than a bench reserve.
I have long been against it, but when I saw Wainwright tear his Achilles merely trying to get out of the box this past yaer, I began to consider that it's time. Yet another generation of young players has come along that grew up with DHs, so the game to them is the AL-style. We old war horses are in danger of becoming dinosaurs when we fail to see and know the feeling of those who play the game.

And yet most players and managers when asked by media are against it. And as for Waino's injury? I don't see them as a big deal unless death is involved. Injury is part of the game. They happen. He could've done that throwing a pitch. I just hate to see tradition in sports continually p***ed on. Every new comissioner tries to make their mark. With Bud it was interleague play and the AS game thing. NASCAR is a great parallel. Brian France has mucked things up so bad with his Chase that 2015 gave us a champ that missed a third of the season due to injury and still won it. It's not right and doesn't work for me. Change where needed is a good thing, but trying to fix something that ain't broke is not.

 

[clvclv]

Not a huge fan. That said, I want Gattis back as Freeman's "protector/wingman" when it happens. 2017 lineup...

2B- Albies, SS- Swanson, 1B- Freeman, DH- Gattis, C- Wieters, RF- Inciarte, 3B- Olivera, LF- Markakis, CF- Mallex

Bench: C- Flowers, 1B/2B/3B/LF- KJ, 2B/SS- Peterson, LF/CF/RF- Maybin

I could live with that.