If you play the field then you should hit.

 

That's baseball.

 

I agree, but as I always post, I'm old school. And rjs4470 is right, it's used at every level of baseball. So I guess what's next are courtesy runners, God help us!!

I agree, but as I always post, I'm old school. And rjs4470 is right, it's used at every level of baseball. So I guess what's next are courtesy runners, God help us!!

 

As progressive as I am, there are limits.

As progressive as I am, there are limits.

 

One would hope, but there are always going to be those who want to push the envelope. Not because they think it would improve a situation, just to start anarchy. (Present company excluded of course.)

Except it's not like that at any other level of baseball and hasn't been for decades.

 

And I think if you walk up to the plate and I'm paying money to watch you hit, you should be able to hit.

Many times in college and high school ball the pitcher does hit, and the speedy center fielder or second baseman that can't lift the bat is DH'd for.

Many times in college and high school ball the pitcher does hit, and the speedy center fielder or second baseman that can't lift the bat is DH'd for.

 

That's because sometimes in college and VERY often in high school, the pitcher is the stud athlete that can hit.

I agree, but as I always post, I'm old school. And rjs4470 is right, it's used at every level of baseball. So I guess what's next are courtesy runners, God help us!!

 

Never thought about that, but I honestly could see it happening. Just like the DH, the players union would be all over that. Expand the roster to add more specialists. Make it free substitution. Who wants to watch a catcher, an old DH or 1B try to run the bases? Let the DH hit. Then put in a pinch runner. Free subsitution so you can have players go in and out of the game as you choose. Why should a player be forced to leave the game just because someone hits for him (like DH for a pitcher) or pinch runs?

That's because sometimes in college and VERY often in high school, the pitcher is the stud athlete that can hit.

 

My point was that even though it is done a lower levels, it's not because pitchers can't hit.

Many times in college and high school ball the pitcher does hit, and the speedy center fielder or second baseman that can't lift the bat is DH'd for.

 

The DH rule is a little different in college. Only the Pitcher may be DH'd for, although the pitcher can also serve as the DH and pitcher at the same time.....that way, a pitcher can be removed as pitcher and still stay in the game as DH (in which case the new pitcher would not bat) or you can pinch hit for him and insert a new DH and still leave him in the game to pitch. You cannot DH for any other position player in college. You could write a whole book on how the DH rule is used in college.

 

High school and below, obviously, any player can be DH'd for.

Edited January 18, 201610 yr by rjs4470

Never thought about that, but I honestly could see it happening. Just like the DH, the players union would be all over that. Expand the roster to add more specialists. Make it free substitution. Who wants to watch a catcher, an old DH or 1B try to run the bases? Let the DH hit. Then put in a pinch runner. Free subsitution so you can have players go in and out of the game as you choose. Why should a player be forced to leave the game just because someone hits for him (like DH for a pitcher) or pinch runs?

 

The players union hasn't exactly been all over the DH rule to expand rosters, since the NL still hasn't added a DH in the 40+ years since the AL added it. In fact MLB rosters have remained constant over the last 75 years or so. There's a lot of good reasons to expand rosters to 26, but the owner's will control that, not the players union.

 

In regards to the courtesy runner rule, it's not used at every level, unlike the DH. It's basically a youth league and high school rule (it is used at the college level in the NAIA, but not in any NCAA divisions) although not all states allow courtesy runners in high school. Obviously, it was a rule that came about to speed up play, as not all youth league and high school fields have lights. I don't think anyone has ever pushed for other levels to implement it.

I hope so, need to get everyone on the same page.

Precisely. The "science of National League managing" is VASTLY overrated.

C'mon Papa, the double switch is as complicated as separating Siamese twins at birth...only the rare genius can figure it out.

The players union hasn't exactly been all over the DH rule to expand rosters' date=' since the NL still hasn't added a DH in the 40+ years since the AL added it. In fact MLB rosters have remained constant over the last 75 years or so. There's a lot of good reasons to expand rosters to 26, but the owner's will control that, not the players union. In regards to the courtesy runner rule, it's not used at every level, unlike the DH. It's basically a youth league and high school rule (it is used at the college level in the NAIA, but not in any NCAA divisions) although not all states allow courtesy runners in high school. Obviously, it was a rule that came about to speed up play, as not all youth league and high school fields have lights. I don't think anyone has ever pushed for other levels to implement it.[/quote']

 

 

I've had to explain the courtesy runner details to Ohio teams when they wander across the river.

It really doesn't matter to me one way or the other, but both leagues either need the DH or both leagues need to let pitchers hit. How can MLB have different rules for different leagues and make them play each other. And then let the All Star game decide who gets the advantage in the World Series.

Look at Obama. On his way out and still creating jobs!