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Journal Em Emalb's Journal: Talking Baseball (the DH to be exact) 26

Journal by Em Emalb

Non-fans need not apply, this is baseball, if you don't like baseball, then why bother replying?

The DH. Designated hitter. A guy who (for that game at least) does not take the field, just hits.

Whatcha think of it?

Pros:
1) Conceptually creates more offense, which fans like*.

2) gives an aging slugger an extension to their career in baseball.

3) I can't think of a 3rd.

Cons:

1) Only one league has it. (American League)

2) Pitchers don't have to face "retribution" for their pitches. (Think Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens, before he went to the Astros.

3) Takes up a roster spot that could be filled by a utility player, or another pitcher.

*I personally love the thrill of a 0-0 or 1-0 well pitched game, but I guess I'm just weird.

Thoughts?

Me? I'm against it. The DH doesn't really provide much excitement to me, and I'm also a NL type of guy anyway. Down with the DH I say! Down with the DH!

You?

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Talking Baseball (the DH to be exact) More

Talking Baseball (the DH to be exact)

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  • Baseball is a simple game: you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Two out of three on that list just ain't good enough. Go play football if you can only do one or two things.

    ....Bethanie....
    • Go play football if you can only do one or two things.

      You defined the simple rules of Baseball, now explain the simple rules of Football (and if you don't know, there's a hell of a lot more than just 3). :-P

      Oh, and football fans are a LOT more rabid than baseball fans :-P

      George Carlin said it best:

      Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the o

      • You defined the simple rules of Baseball, now explain the simple rules of Football (and if you don't know, there's a hell of a lot more than just 3). :-P

        Actually, if you read the Official Rules of the (American|National) League and compare them to say, the Official Rules of the National Football League, baseball has more rules.

  • I'm a baseball fan - but a new one.

    I never really watched baseball before I met my wife. She is really into it so I started watching with her. Then the Diamondbacks came to town. So now I watch when I can and I really like it. But I don't have a real sense of the history of the game- I didn't grow up on it. I went to spring training games as a kid but didn't watch the game much.

    I don't like the DH 'cause I think pitchers should have to hit. I like to watch them try. And you want to see fans get e
  • It shouldn't exist. Nuff said.
  • The DH is the only flaw in the otherwise perfection known as the American League.

    Well, that and the grammar in that sentence.

    I used to care. Call me when they start doing hair follicle drug tests on all the members of the millionaire babies club on a weekly basis. (And yes, they should test the owners for cocaine as well. Wonder how they'd like that:)
  • I used to like the idea of a guy that doesn't have to do anything other than beat the crap out of the ball, but now, I'm finding that this has enabled certain teams [mlb.com] with limitness money to create a lock on the American League (where my O's reside).
  • I grew up watching the AL (Orioles then Tigers), so I was not as aware of this as I have since become as an NL (Giants) fan. NL baseball is just much better due to the suspense of keeping / pulling the pitcher, and the additional excitement of pitchers who can hit (e.g. Shawn Estes, Livan Hernandez).

    All that you need to know on this subject is that Babe Ruth was a pitcher for much of his career, and a damn good one. If he could pitch and hit, so can David Wells, or Mariano Rivera.

    • Well, sorta. If there was still a 1950s-era team known as the Washington Senators (now known as the Minnesota Twins, with a second incarnation from the 1960s now known as the Texas Rangers), then I suppose I'd cheer for the Senators...being that I cheer for all the other Washington teams -- Redskins, Capitals, Bullets/Wizards (though I'm really just a fan of baseball and football).

      Somehow I can't bring myself to be a real Twins fan, though, even after having lived in Minnesota for ten years. And I never c

      • If DC can snag the Expos [baseballindc.com], then we might well have National League ball in the nation's capital for the first time in over a century! [baseball-reference.com]

        (If they do get the Expos, I think they should take the old NL name "Nationals" [baseball-reference.com] but I bet "Senators" will win out.)

        • As my recent birthday present [grantham.de] may tell you (the thing on my head), I'm in favor of the Senators name...no reason, really, just that that's the name I grew up hearing about.

          The additional story behind the hat is that when I was a little kid, I had a Senators ball cap (in fact I was wearing it in the recent baby photo contest [astradyne.co.uk] -- a dark blue one with a white "W"). We went to Disneyland with my family when I was about 4, and right at the entrance was Goofy, yukking it up with the kids. I went up to him, he sa

        • Never happen.

          Angelos is a litigious son of a bitch and has claimed the DC metro area for the Orioles. He'll sue every party involved from here to kingdom come.

          Now, build a stadium in Fredricksburg, VA, and you have a good idea that Angelos can't really do shit about. It's about as easy to get there from DC (especially the Virginia 'burbs) and you could draw from most of Virginia.

    • If [Babe Ruth] could pitch and hit, so can David Wells...

      Wells has the Babe's physique, at least. Just don't expect him to steal any bases. :-)

      Here's the last word. Dontrelle Willis [go.com]. Granted, this is only through 2 games, but damn.

      Crash [imdb.com] said it right:

      I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter.

  • You know I used to think that the DH was a sin of the highest order before both the Gods of the Diamond and man.

    But after watching a few years of World Series games where the AL plays in an NL park this scenario always comes up.

    Two outs, top of, say, the 6th, men on second and third for the AL team. Critical point in the game. If those two guys score on a single then we have a lead change.

    <HarryCareyVoice>
    But wait a minute!
    </HarryCareyVoice>

    Here comes the AL pitcher up to bat who hasn't even
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Having to bat the pitcher also throws in the dilemna of the pinch hitter but having to bring in a new pitcher 'round the 5th or 6th inning.

    Of course making some managers bring in that extra brain cell might just finish 'em off. :-D
  • I'm not fanatically anti-DH. I don't think it ruins the game or anything like that. However I really like the strategy that comes from not having a DH. Things like the double-switch, or the way that you have to be more judicious in your use of your relievers, since if you substitue someone for the pitcher in the lineup you then have to bring someone in from the pen.

    I'm also with you in the appreciation of a low score game. I think a well turned double play or a diving catch is just as thrilling as a ho
  • then where will Barry Bonds be able to play and break Hank's record?

    Personally, I like the DH. And I don't really care that the National League doesn't have it. I like differences between the leagues - it's good for the game.
    • Them's the breaks bud. ;)

      If Barry doesn't break Hank's records, that's fine with me.

      Besides, Barry is still a good fielder. Hell, I bet he'd be insulted to hear us thinking he's a liability to the Giants.

      Of course, his head's also two sizes larger than it used to be....take that for what it's worth.
    • I guess this sums up what I feel about the DH as well...

      It's all fine and good. I don't really care.

      In fact, I kinda like it. It makes the series *that* much more interesting...

  • Ok, Em, I have to take issue with your proclamation that you enjoy a well-pitched 1-0 game. Well, ok, this isn't really a gripe with you, just with people who say that they like that sort of game. What do people really mean when they say they like a game like that?

    The answer, I'm afraid is that they mean that they like a well-pitched, 1-0 game, when it's a couple of marquee pitchers on the mound, because then everyone can sound smart when they say that it's a great pitcher's duel. If it's two nobodies

    • Ok, perhaps then I should clarify...I grew up playing baseball. (Skinny kids in Texas play baseball instead of the religion that is football) Got really good. Had high school scouts coming to my middle school games to recruit me to go to their schools. Went to the Little League Regional Tourneys two years in a row. Got beat both times, but damn, it was fun.

      Anyway, having pitched a lot growing up, I can say I appreciate that no name kid on the mound pitching his arm off in a classic 1-0 game. I apprec
  • DH is one of the reasons I don't really respect Basball as a "real man's sport". It's such a copout to not have to go to bat. what next Designated runners (one guy hits the other runs?).

  • ...as long as the leagues standardize.

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