The DH

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm more of an anti-DH guy, but something needs to be done to make whatever the decision the same in both leagues. Someone's getting an advantage simply based on the rules of the game, and that's no good.

[seanimal]

I'm more of an anti-DH guy, but something needs to be done to make whatever the decision the same in both leagues. Someone's getting an advantage simply based on the rules of the game, and that's no good.

 

I agree with the sentiment that both leagues should be under the same rule structure. However, i think having pitchers hit almost always makes the game crappier, less exciting, and less fun to watch. I think the dh rule should be modified somehow to limit its use, but in a way that still allows it to be a factor in games.

 

I don't particularly care for some ol' time-y snobbish principle about how "the game should be played". All that ultimately matters is that the game is played, not some strange ideal concocted back when people were actually afraid that the south might rise again.

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree with the sentiment that both leagues should be under the same rule structure. However, i think having pitchers hit almost always makes the game crappier, less exciting, and less fun to watch. I think the dh rule should be modified somehow to limit its use, but in a way that still allows it to be a factor in games.

 

This sounds completely nonsensical.

[seanimal]

I agree with the sentiment that both leagues should be under the same rule structure. However, i think having pitchers hit almost always makes the game crappier, less exciting, and less fun to watch. I think the dh rule should be modified somehow to limit its use, but in a way that still allows it to be a factor in games.

 

This sounds completely nonsensical.

 

not if you're a forward thinker like me and mlk

[Sammy Sofa]

He always had plan and a way out and stuff.

[seanimal]

oh it's not enough for guys like us to say "ryan theriot is a back-up at best", we go the extra mile and say that if he becomes a back-up, the guy who he's backing up should be better than him as well.

[RedFlash]

 

I hope you were kidding about moving the fences back. For one only one or two guys on every team have the power to hit 400 foot home runs more than a hand full of times in a season. For instance Sosa and Ramirez can/could hit bombs but D . Lee doesn't really hit bombs but just 370-390 foot home runs. Also offense would only improve by moving the fences back. Think about it. How hard is it to cover the outfield? Imagine it being 50 feet bigger everywhere. Teams would just hit the gaps all game long and have doubles and triples. Heck you could see more inside the park home runs than actual home runs.

 

I am being serious. We are still in an era of baseball in which most teams still play for the "3 run homeruns" instead of playing baseball, with strategic moves, like bunting, hit and run, etc, etc. By moving the fences back, it makes organizations rethink, how they draft players, how they developed players, and which players to go after. It would force player, that if they want to play in the majors, they have to be more then adequate in the field, defensively, or you're a pinch-hitter. And by moving the fence back, it would separate the LEGIT power hitters, from the wannabes, who people might think are on the juice. In other words.

 

That said the DH I think is a neat idea but not something that should be used at the MLB level or minors level; college eh. This said as much as I like seeing pitchers hit (and I really do enjoy it because if they get a hit it's like getting a home run) I would more so just like it to be equal. The Dh gives the AL too big of an advantage. No NL teams have a great bat on the bench (well Ward would make a good DH in the AL) meanwhile AL pitchers can't bat but neither can NL pitchers so the AL comes out ahead. The argument against this is why is it all-of-a-sudden a major issue. To me I believe it is the change that AL teams have finally realized its an advantage and are willing to spend the dough to have a good DH. In the past a lot of AL teams didn't seek out DH's they just plugged the best leftover guy into the DH slot after Spring Training.

 

That's the jist of people's problem with the DH. When the two leagues play, it would be like the NL having to be at a 1 hitter, or even 2 hitter disadvantage against the AL. I mean there are few NL teams that has a 1-8 lineup, and it's stacked. About 80% of the NL teams has atleast two below average hitters (.240 or below) in the lineup. Which means offensively, the AL would have and advantage of having two more hitters to use then the NL.

 

Personally, I like to see the rule modified...let's say...no ONE player can be the DH for more then say 25 games during the season. Which means guys like Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Jason Giambi, would be forced to have to improve their defensive games, or risk having to be pull for a defensive replacement late in the game.

[seanimal]

haha

[Derwood]

having the DH means nearly zero strategy for managers and no real need for a bench

[seanimal]

having the DH means nearly zero strategy for managers and no real need for a bench

 

"managing" usually involves ruining a team's chances to score, rather than improving them. And you still need a bench, you just use them less. That's a good thing.

[CoolHandLuke]

 

I hope you were kidding about moving the fences back. For one only one or two guys on every team have the power to hit 400 foot home runs more than a hand full of times in a season. For instance Sosa and Ramirez can/could hit bombs but D . Lee doesn't really hit bombs but just 370-390 foot home runs. Also offense would only improve by moving the fences back. Think about it. How hard is it to cover the outfield? Imagine it being 50 feet bigger everywhere. Teams would just hit the gaps all game long and have doubles and triples. Heck you could see more inside the park home runs than actual home runs.

 

I am being serious. We are still in an era of baseball in which most teams still play for the "3 run homeruns" instead of playing baseball, with strategic moves, like bunting, hit and run, etc, etc. By moving the fences back, it makes organizations rethink, how they draft players, how they developed players, and which players to go after. It would force player, that if they want to play in the majors, they have to be more then adequate in the field, defensively, or you're a pinch-hitter. And by moving the fence back, it would separate the LEGIT power hitters, from the wannabes, who people might think are on the juice. In other words.

 

That said the DH I think is a neat idea but not something that should be used at the MLB level or minors level; college eh. This said as much as I like seeing pitchers hit (and I really do enjoy it because if they get a hit it's like getting a home run) I would more so just like it to be equal. The Dh gives the AL too big of an advantage. No NL teams have a great bat on the bench (well Ward would make a good DH in the AL) meanwhile AL pitchers can't bat but neither can NL pitchers so the AL comes out ahead. The argument against this is why is it all-of-a-sudden a major issue. To me I believe it is the change that AL teams have finally realized its an advantage and are willing to spend the dough to have a good DH. In the past a lot of AL teams didn't seek out DH's they just plugged the best leftover guy into the DH slot after Spring Training.

 

That's the jist of people's problem with the DH. When the two leagues play, it would be like the NL having to be at a 1 hitter, or even 2 hitter disadvantage against the AL. I mean there are few NL teams that has a 1-8 lineup, and it's stacked. About 80% of the NL teams has atleast two below average hitters (.240 or below) in the lineup. Which means offensively, the AL would have and advantage of having two more hitters to use then the NL.

 

Personally, I like to see the rule modified...let's say...no ONE player can be the DH for more then say 25 games during the season. Which means guys like Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Jason Giambi, would be forced to have to improve their defensive games, or risk having to be pull for a defensive replacement late in the game.

 

Ok, sure it makes them rethink just about everything, but how is forcing every AL team to rethink most of their player procurement and development strategies helping in any way? You come out with all the wild changes, but they really seem to be just change for change's sake.

[seanimal]

and it just seems that it's more of the same with the hating of guys who "don't play defense". who cares? they mash the f out of the ball. that's awesome. watching some guy make a routine grounder is booring. in fact, the one benefit of not having the dh is that those guys still play, except they're error machines.

 

frankly (heh), the more Frank Thomas is able to extend his career, the happier I am. When I was a young buck and a bunch of people failed to inform me that I was supposed to hate everything pale hose, Frank Thomas was one of my favorite players. the longer he is able to contribute to his team and to his already illustrious career, the better, as far as i'm concerned.

[biittner77]

I am being serious. We are still in an era of baseball in which most teams still play for the "3 run homeruns" instead of playing baseball, with strategic moves, like bunting, hit and run, etc, etc. By moving the fences back, it makes organizations rethink, how they draft players, how they developed players, and which players to go after. It would force player, that if they want to play in the majors, they have to be more then adequate in the field, defensively, or you're a pinch-hitter. And by moving the fence back, it would separate the LEGIT power hitters, from the wannabes, who people might think are on the juice. In other words.

 

It's about 25 years too late for this idea. During the late 70s / early 80s there were guys with speed and guys that hit for power and very few were able to do both. These days there are a lot more power hitters that can run well.

 

If they moved the fences back bunting would be an even dumber strategy than it is now. Every stadium would be like Coors field. There'd be fewer HRs but there would be more XBH and more potential for runs. There would also be more dump singles as OF would have to play deeper to try to cut off the enormous gaps.

[SouthSideRyan]

and it just seems that it's more of the same with the hating of guys who "don't play defense". who cares? they mash the f out of the ball. that's awesome. watching some guy make a routine grounder is booring. in fact, the one benefit of not having the dh is that those guys still play, except they're error machines.

 

 

That's not baseball. In baseball if you can mash the hell out of the ball, then a team finds a spot for you on defense and you have to live with the negatives of their defense. You could get much better offenses and defenses by having defense/offense switches at every position. 9 defensive position players, 6 offensive players, it'll be perfect.