Or give the pitchers batting practice so they can hit. Many were very good hitters coming up through youth, school… I would rather they eliminate the 9th spot altogether rather than having a designated hitter.
Pitchers hitting is a metaphor for the rest of us; it’s as close as the fans can get to the experience of doing it themselves. That’s why there’s always a special cheer when a pitcher gets a hit. The crowd is living it vicariously.
Baseball has flaws. Designated hitter is #1 on my list, followed by interleague play (which debases interest in both All Star game and World series) and subjective/variable strike zone. The third could be cured by setting a uniform 18" – 48" strike zone, regardless of player height, and could be called entirely by machinery.
Baseball is a game of strategy. I never agreed with the AL’s decision to institute the DH rule. It removed a very important strategic part of the game.
The NL’s decision to emulate this, will detract, rather than add to the enjoyment of the game. The role of the Pitcher has already been diluted enough by the use of multiple relief pitchers. Today’s pitchers, by and large, are incapable of throwing a complete game. The most expected of them is 4 or 5 innings ( at best ).
Let the pitcher hit. Instead of the NL changing their rule, it is the AL that should return to how the game was originally designed.
The more the game becomes diluted, the more complaints seem to crop up. Players used to take pride in their diverse accomplishments; now they refuse to make the most minor of adjustments at the plate to EASILY thwart those ridiculous defense shifts!
Although the NCAA has also adopted the DH, many coaches will let the pitchers hit, since they often have averages comparable to the position players. Goes to show you how difficult it is to hit major league pitching. PS, I am an NL guy, so I prefer the non-DH rules.
gary almost 6 years ago
Or give the pitchers batting practice so they can hit. Many were very good hitters coming up through youth, school… I would rather they eliminate the 9th spot altogether rather than having a designated hitter.
Geophyzz almost 6 years ago
Making the pitchers take their turn in the batter’s box might reduce the number of brushbacks & bean-balls.
Polsixe almost 6 years ago
Considering how many position have low sub .200 BA a pitcher’s AB is not so bad, and yes they occasionally connect.
richsolano almost 6 years ago
Pitchers hitting is a metaphor for the rest of us; it’s as close as the fans can get to the experience of doing it themselves. That’s why there’s always a special cheer when a pitcher gets a hit. The crowd is living it vicariously.
jbmlaw01 almost 6 years ago
Baseball has flaws. Designated hitter is #1 on my list, followed by interleague play (which debases interest in both All Star game and World series) and subjective/variable strike zone. The third could be cured by setting a uniform 18" – 48" strike zone, regardless of player height, and could be called entirely by machinery.
Linguist almost 6 years ago
Baseball is a game of strategy. I never agreed with the AL’s decision to institute the DH rule. It removed a very important strategic part of the game.
The NL’s decision to emulate this, will detract, rather than add to the enjoyment of the game. The role of the Pitcher has already been diluted enough by the use of multiple relief pitchers. Today’s pitchers, by and large, are incapable of throwing a complete game. The most expected of them is 4 or 5 innings ( at best ).
Let the pitcher hit. Instead of the NL changing their rule, it is the AL that should return to how the game was originally designed.
richsolano almost 6 years ago
The more the game becomes diluted, the more complaints seem to crop up. Players used to take pride in their diverse accomplishments; now they refuse to make the most minor of adjustments at the plate to EASILY thwart those ridiculous defense shifts!
J Quest almost 6 years ago
Although the NCAA has also adopted the DH, many coaches will let the pitchers hit, since they often have averages comparable to the position players. Goes to show you how difficult it is to hit major league pitching. PS, I am an NL guy, so I prefer the non-DH rules.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
And then there are pitchers who can hit.
Hippogriff almost 6 years ago
I can remember when Dallas a Texas League pitcher who hit .333.
Linguist almost 6 years ago
People tend to forget that Babe Ruth started as a pitcher – and was a very good one !
https://www.quora.com/Was-Babe-Ruth-a-good-pitcher
Artie Adams almost 6 years ago
Someone calling from Pittsburgh, I see.