I am for the DH in both leagues. If hitting was more of a priority for pitchers in the NL then I would not feel as strongly as I do about the subject. It is viewed as a nuisance by teams and something they have to strategize around because it is not a priority. It is accepted as "part of the game", but pitchers are looked at like they were when baseball got started. Pitchers actually focused on hitting and being part of the offense. Now a bulk of them are sacrificial outs and team jokes that spend their free time on the driving range, not in a batting cage. It makes no sense because growing up your pitchers are some of the best athletes and hitters. It has just become a common acceptance in baseball that you do not have to focus on hitting once you reach the professional ranks. Why that is now accepted and considered one of those under appreciated intricacies I will never know?.

Really, I love baseball either way. The Dh has extended the careers of many stars, and even made a few guys stars that we might never have gotten to see hit. Also, who enjoys watching pitchers try to hit, or just automatically be up there just to bunt?? On the other hand, I do like the chess match of deciding when to hit for your pitcher, and double switches, and although its painful to watch most pitchers hit, it's a lot of fun to watch on those rare occasions they come up with a big hit. I'm not old enough to remember when there was no DH, so I guess I'm just used to it. I can tell you it will never go away. No way the players association let's the League get rid it.. Again too many careers get extended by the DH

Really, I love baseball either way. The Dh has extended the careers of many stars, and even made a few guys stars that we might never have gotten to see hit. Also, who enjoys watching pitchers try to hit, or just automatically be up there just to bunt?? On the other hand, I do like the chess match of deciding when to hit for your pitcher, and double switches, and although its painful to watch most pitchers hit, it's a lot of fun to watch on those rare occasions they come up with a big hit. I'm not old enough to remember when there was no DH, so I guess I'm just used to it. I can tell you it will never go away. No way the players association let's the League get rid it.. Again too many careers get extended by the DH

 

Pretty much how I feel. I like good MLB hitters being able to play an extra year or two because of it. I also like the strategy used in NL games when the pitcher has to hit. As stated, I'm fine either way, just make it uniform.

I'm not a fan of the DH, but it isn't a really big concern to me either. I guess I would go with DH in NL parks and no DH in AL parks so fans get a taste of each during a season.

 

 

A BIGGER issue for me is the All-Star game determining the home team in the world series. Should either alternate or with expanded scheduling go with best record, but do not base it on All-Star game.

Being a fan of an American League team I'm used to watching baseball with the DH. Since my favorite team is the Red Sox that means I've got to watch David Ortiz DH for the last decade. I'd much rather have watched Ortiz at the plate than Pedro and Schilling. However, I go to more Reds games and watch them on television a lot as well so I enjoy the strategy of the NL game as well. That being said, it isn't like the NL version is a chess match. It isn't that hard to figure out how to pull off a double switch (well maybe for Dusty but not for most). Like a previous poster stated if the pitchers actually worked on their hitting or were encouraged to give an effort at the plate I'd probably prefer the non-DH games. I hate watching a pitcher come up with a runner or two on base and 2 outs and look at 3 pitches right down the middle because he has a 2 run lead and doesn't want to have to run the bases. When I see that it makes me want the DH in all games.

 

I'm okay with either DH or no DH but I'm like many others in this this thread that would like to see it standardized. With that being said I think you're much more likely to see the DH added to the NL than to see it go away. The MLB Player's Union will not allow that to happen. Those DH spots are much more highly paid than the 5th outfielder or utility positions that would take over that roster spot if the DH were eliminated.

If the National League adopts that stupid rule I might actually start watching softball. The pitcher bats!

I love it. Let the pitcher hit and DH for Hanigan.

I am for the DH in both leagues. If hitting was more of a priority for pitchers in the NL then I would not feel as strongly as I do about the subject. It is viewed as a nuisance by teams and something they have to strategize around because it is not a priority. It is accepted as "part of the game", but pitchers are looked at like they were when baseball got started. Pitchers actually focused on hitting and being part of the offense. Now a bulk of them are sacrificial outs and team jokes that spend their free time on the driving range, not in a batting cage. It makes no sense because growing up your pitchers are some of the best athletes and hitters. It has just become a common acceptance in baseball that you do not have to focus on hitting once you reach the professional ranks. Why that is now accepted and considered one of those under appreciated intricacies I will never know?.

 

that is why I like the pitcher having to hit. It makes the manager manage and make tough decisions.

that is why I like the pitcher having to hit. It makes the manager manage and make tough decisions.

Sure, I get and can appreciate that, but the strategy comes about for all the wrong reasons. The strategy comes in to place because there is little to no effort to learn how to bat by the overwhelming majority of pitchers. I do not buy for a second they are incapable of producing more than they do. Biggest fallacy in sports. Again, pitchers are generally the best players on teams growing up.

 

You can't equate it to other sports, but it would like saying every team in basketball is required to play 1 guy whose specialty is defense and works on nothing but defense. During offensive sessions he sits on the sidelines or goes play golf.

You can't equate it to other sports, but it would like saying every team in basketball is required to play 1 guy whose specialty is defense and works on nothing but defense. During offensive sessions he sits on the sidelines or goes play golf.

 

Closest thing that I can think of is the kicker in football. Pretty much works on their own thing, but outside of a few trick plays, has no clue of either the offense or the defense.