Vogelbach's Weight

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Doesn't he have a bunch of steals?

 

I think his athleticism is underrated, but I also think he'll never, ever be able to play anywhere other than 1B or DH.

Agreed. Nor do I think Rizzo can either (especially when you're projecting out 3-4 years in advance).

 

I don't see these guys on the same team unless the NL adopts the DH.

Have there even been rumors of this happening?

I can only remember various sportswriters or blogs speculating that it will happen at some point, but nothing from an actual source inside baseball. I do recall that speculation picked up about an eventual transition to an NL DH once it was announced that Houston was moving to the AL, thus creating two 15-team leagues and the necessity of constant interleague play. That would seem to further lessen the perceived uniqueness of the two leagues vis-a-vis one another.

 

In terms of the stakeholders involved, it seems like most--if not all--would be in favor of it. The owners probably would assume an NL DH would lead to increased run scoring, which in turn might boost attendance and TV ratings. Front offices might want it for the purposes of scouting teams and/or players from the other league. And I would assume the players would be OK with it as it would theoretically extend the careers of position players while offering more opportunities for positionless players in college or HS yet to be drafted. (Of course, I guess the Carlos Zambranos of the world might resist the idea of giving up their ABs, but I can't say how many pitchers really enjoy hitting and baserunning. Some pitchers might be in favor of foregoing hitting out of the belief that it would reduce injury risk by no longer having to hit or run the bases.)

 

I personally hope it happens. Watching pitchers swing and miss on three down-Broadway fastballs, with the occasional attempted sacrifice bunt sprinkled in, doesn't really do a whole lot for me.

[Elrhino]

I've always wondered why the players association didn't make a push for it. Seems it would give a lot more hitters a lot more opportunities for at bats and some accumulative stats to translate into money on the free agent market. It could also extend some careers.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I've always wondered why the players association didn't make a push for it. Seems it would give a lot more hitters a lot more opportunities for at bats and some accumulative stats to translate into money on the free agent market. It could also extend some careers.

 

It seems like it's one of those standing labor issues where they wouldn't mind it, but it gets bargained away very early in every process.

[XZero771679666304]

It's just a matter of time, imo. And as interleague play expands, so will pressure to standardize the two leagues.

 

I used to be strongly opposed to the idea, but I have come around to the other side. The MLBPA would never allow the DH to be scrapped, and I think evening things out should happen. Plus I've become less and less enamored with the "strategy" of managing around the pitcher's spot.

[jumbo]

It's just a matter of time, imo. And as interleague play expands, so will pressure to standardize the two leagues.

 

I used to be strongly opposed to the idea, but I have come around to the other side. The MLBPA would never allow the DH to be scrapped, and I think evening things out should happen. Plus I've become less and less enamored with the "strategy" of managing around the pitcher's spot.

 

The last offseason saw Pujols and Fielder both go to AL teams with long contracts due to the DH spot being available. I think the disadvantage to the NL teams in signing this kind of player will drive the DH as much as anything.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, I really cannot wait for it to happen. It's such a disadvantage for team construct in the NL.