I'm against the DH in theory but don't actually care in practice. Yes, there's some strategery involved when pitchers hit and managing double switches is kinda fun to think about but watching starting pitchers flail away 2-3 times a game is boring. I'm more concerned with the move to have 7 inning games for doubleheaders and the bullshit about extra innings starting with runners on base. I'd prefer ties than monkeying around with those rules.

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Originally posted by Ironmike57:
Without looking it up, do you remember who the first DH to bat was?

No, but I do remember, and know personally, the very first batter to appear in ESPN's first live broadcast sporting event.


A: Nick Nikitis, leadoff hitter and 2b for the Kentucky Bourbon's pro softball team.

the DH is unAmerican

quote:

Originally posted by Ironmike57:
Without looking it up, do you remember who the first DH to bat was?

Some nameless godless heathen communist who knew not what he did offending the ghost of Abner Doubleday.

He was a Yankee and it kept his career alive.

Ron Blomberg.

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Originally posted by Sig2340:

quote:

Originally posted by Ironmike57:
Without looking it up, do you remember who the first DH to bat was?

Some nameless godless heathen communist who knew not what he did offending the ghost of Abner Doubleday.

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Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
What does MLB and MLBPA do if all the DH’s in the AL and NL are on the IL?

Any player on the active roster can function as a DH in the line up.

Or, a MLB team in the NL or AL can call up a ML player in AAA to MLB to take the place of the DH that’s on the IL.

Normally yes, but not during this abbreviated season they're trying to cobble together. In all the proposals so far, minor league baseball is shuttered for the season, so those players won't be available for call up. And even if they were available, none of them would be in shape to play.

Do you have a source on MiLB being shut down? I have not seen anything stating the minor leagues would not play. Latest I could find was a Jeff Passan report dated 4/29 that despite speculation the MiLB season had not been cancelled.

While it may not be normal, I would expect MLB teams to at minimum run something at their spring training facilities for minor league guys.

Here's an idea, why don't they just play fucking baseball? Other than a shorter season, which it probably should be anyway, why change anything?


The only reason baseball games are long, is television.
And the only one complaining that games are long, is television.

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Originally posted by SR025:

How does DH slow it down? I would think all the pitching changes would slow it more

The near automatic out when the pitcher gets up.

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Originally posted by TXJIM:
Just because the DH rule is in effect does not mean the teams have to use it. Those NL teams are perfectly within the rules to allow their pitchers to hit for themselves. When two NL teams play they could simply agree not to use the DH. Any bets on how many forgo the DH?

Well, sure, but no team is going to do that. Not with any regularity, anyway.

I hate the DH, but you can count on one hand the number of Major League pitchers who are a threat (other than sacrifice) at the plate.

Speaking of the sacrifice, I enjoy its strategic turns, along with all the other NL management differences from the AL.

In theory, I don't like the DH, in practice, I want to see the best pitchers pitch & the best hitters hit - and that ain't pitchers. 9 times out of 10, you can take a piss break during a pitchers at bat & not miss anything - how is that adding to the game?

I don’t like it, but obviously, I need to get over it and just enjoy the game. Anymore, I like college ball more than MLB, and I’ll miss the College World Series next month like a mother would miss her baby.

I prefer the DH(ducks for cover). Maybe it is because I grew up watching the Red Sox (life long fan). Watching NL games with the pitcher virtually always standing there flailing away(if they swing at all) at 3 pitches is just awful.

As stated, the number of pitchers who are a threat to do much of anything at the plate is very low.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
In theory, I don't like the DH, in practice, I want to see the best pitchers pitch & the best hitters hit - and that ain't pitchers. 9 times out of 10, you can take a piss break during a pitchers at bat & not miss anything - how is that adding to the game?

Because playing that way is called baseball.

Really, why not play like football, nine batters, nine fielders?
Watering down the game is not adding to the game.

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Originally posted by ptb351:
I prefer the DH(ducks for cover). Maybe it is because I grew up watching the Red Sox (life long fan). Watching NL games with the pitcher virtually always standing there flailing away(if they swing at all) at 3 pitches is just awful.

As stated, the number of pitchers who are a threat to do much of anything at the plate is very low.

It’s gonna happen, but I think we all remember growing up, the pitcher was often (usually) the best athlete on the team. He could both pitch and hit very well. It stays that way until college or the minors when coaches make the pitchers concentrate on pitching and give up on the idea of being a hitter—even a pinch hitter.

I know a guy who was a LHP and hit about .430 in HS. He was recruited by BYU and was allowed to hit there. He continued to hit well averaging .360 his first season and .325 the second, as they had him concentrate on pitching more.

He transferred to ASU. Most of you know, one of the premier D1 baseball programs in the country. No more hitting—at all. He needed nasty breaking stuff to be effective and early in his senior season, after hours and hours of pitching, tore his L elbow up bad. He had to give up baseball. Typically, a starting pitcher at ASU, especially a left hander is drafted pretty high. No even a chance, he was done. We’ll live with the DH, but the pitcher didn’t have to become almost a sure out.

If it means they'll begin playing, I’m all for it. There will no doubt be an asterisk on the season, but playing is one step closer to normalcy.