It's time for the NL to adopt the DH

[freddiefreeman5]

With the new CBA in place it is time for the NL to adopt the DH.
I used to be against it but I am all for it now.
Interleague play will be year round next year under the CBA so it makes no sense to me to keep switching rules.
The DH was discussed in the 1920's. The AL has had it for 40 years. The experiment has been a success.
It is time for both leagues to play under the same rules and the DH is not going away in the AL.
I am sick of watching a game and knowing the 9th batter will have a 90% chance of making an out.
The NL league has a disadantage in interleague play because they don't build their rosters around a slugging DH.

Please NL adopt the DH and stop with the 2 different rules. And this comes from who would have never dreamed of saying this before.

[freddiefreeman5]

Should have been:
And this comes from someone who would have never dreamed of saying this before.

[frikativ54]

Snowball's Chance! AL baseball is boring because of the DH - less strategy, no double switches, no watching the pitcher hit. If the NL adopts the DH, I would seriously think about picking a different sport.

[freddiefreeman5]

Why is it a snowballs chance?
Is that what people said when the AL did it?

[freddiefreeman5]

And watching the modern pitcher hit is painful.

[xpress34]

Freddie -

No disrespect to you, but I have to strongly disagree with you.

1) The NL is the SENIOR Circuit - why should they have to change their rules to the league that hasn't been around as long?

2) The DH was supposed to be an experiment in 1973... but just like the IRS after WWI, it was an idea and experiment that got legs and doesn't look to stop anytime soon...

3) Realize that I grew up in Dallas as a Rangers fan since 1972 (1st year) so I had been watching AL (DH Powered) baseball my entire life until the Rockies started here in Denver in 1993 (I moved here in 1991). I never thought I'd like NL baseball, now I enjoy it more than AL by a long shot.

4) If you're a 'baseball' player, you should be able to HIT (regardless of position) and if you can hit, you should be able to FIELD a position. That's how the game was created and how I prefer to see it played.

All the best -

Smitty

P.S. - here's a link everyone might enjoy about Ron Blomberg - the 1st DH

History of the DH (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100311&content_id=8764668&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)

[lakeerie92]

With the new CBA in place it is time for the NL to adopt the DH.
I used to be against it but I am all for it now.
Interleague play will be year round next year under the CBA so it makes no sense to me to keep switching rules.
The DH was discussed in the 1920's. The AL has had it for 40 years. The experiment has been a success.
It is time for both leagues to play under the same rules and the DH is not going away in the AL.
I am sick of watching a game and knowing the 9th batter will have a 90% chance of making an out.
The NL league has a disadantage in interleague play because they don't build their rosters around a slugging DH.

Please NL adopt the DH and stop with the 2 different rules. And this comes from who would have never dreamed of saying this before.
I feel the exact opposite. I say do away with the DH. If you are playing in the field you should be batting in the line up. That is the way we grow up playing and to me the pros should do it no differently.

[jbsportstuff]

I feel the exact opposite. I say do away with the DH. If you are playing in the field you should be batting in the line up. That is the way we grow up playing and to me the pros should do it no differently.
ABSOLUTELY AGREE....Do away with the DH...don't cheapen the game more by having the NL go to the DL.

[freddiefreeman5]

ABSOLUTELY AGREE....Do away with the DH...don't cheapen the game more by having the NL go to the DL.
I agree too.
BUT the AL is never going to do away with the DH.
So I would rather have one rule not 2.

[freddiefreeman5]

All of you do make strong cases though and it brings back my strong feelings on the issue.
Thank you all for giving me a deeper reflection of the issue.

[coxfan]

I used to favor the DH, but changed my mind a few years ago. The stategy of the game is much richer without the DH rule. A few pitchers can actually hit, but in the AL they get no chance.

But what about a couple of suggested compromise rules, as follows?

1) One might be to allow a DH to be used for only one plate appearance per game, at the Manager's discretion. The DH would then be out of the game but the pitcher'd stay in. That would take care of situations where a .190-hitting starter is up with 2 outs and runners in scoring position in the 3rd inning.

2) Or simply modify the current rule to allow a good-hitting pitcher to bat in any plate appearance without killing the DH for all subsequent pitchers. ( Admittedly, this one would probably rarely be used, but might lead to some matchup possibilities for the Manager.)

[woody1351]

i would much rather watch NL baseball vs AL baseball. I think its time for the AL to drop the DH and let the pitcher hit.

[godwulf]

If you're a 'baseball' player, you should be able to HIT (regardless of position) and if you can hit, you should be able to FIELD a position. That's how the game was created and how I prefer to see it played.

Expresses my thoughts perfectly.