The Designated Hitter (in case there's another meaning, we're talking baseball, Ed)

[Brad]

lawyerdad brought this up in another thread, but I think it needs some alone time. What is your take on the DH?

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

The source of all evil in the world.

 

[Hawkeye]

I dunno, NL fans will tell you no DH makes their league a real "thinking mans" league, but all the pinch hitting and bunting really puts me to sleep. I personally would rather see a good hitter up vs a good pitcher when it counts than a pitcher or some bench guy. (Zambrano is an exception) I think it also makes NL pitchers a bit lazier or at the very least pads their stats.

I guess I'm biased because I grew up with an AL team.

It also helps the managers and players, because it gives them the option of letting a guy have the day off from playing in the field while leaving his bat in the lineup.

 

[Baron]

I'm an NL fan and have hated the DH forever, but recently I've started coming around the other way. The DH is used in just about every league in the world aside from the NL, and frankly, pitchers are not hitters, do get paid to hit and don't practice hitting. I'm not exactly sure where I stand at this point, but I'm no longer hostile to the DH.

 

[Steve B.]

Originally Posted by Baron

I'm an NL fan and have hated the DH forever, but recently I've started coming around the other way. The DH is used in just about every league in the world aside from the NL, and frankly, pitchers are not hitters, do get paid to hit and don't practice hitting. I'm not exactly sure where I stand at this point, but I'm no longer hostile to the DH.

I've gone both ways. I grew up American and was in favor. Then I watched National for a while and disliked it. Now I'm ambivalent other than you can't play Jim Thome anywhere else in your lineup.

 

[countdemoney]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

The source of all evil in the world.

+1

Especially with good teams and close games, it's always exciting to watch the managers roll the dice on how long to leave pitchers in and when they have to start making moves.

I still mourn the loss of Whitey Herzog.

 

[James Gatz]

Originally Posted by Baron

I'm an NL fan and have hated the DH forever, but recently I've started coming around the other way. I'm not exactly sure where I stand at this point, but I'm no longer hostile to the DH.

This is exactly how it is for me presently. However...

Originally Posted by countdemoney

with good teams and close games, it's always exciting to watch the managers roll the dice on how long to leave pitchers in and when they have to start making moves.

This is why I usually find myself more in the non-DH camp.

 

[MetroStyles]

Not a fan of DHs. While you're at it, why don't you field a team of defensive players and a team of offensive players a la football?

 

[CTGuy]

As a dedicated AL fan I like the DH. The only thing I really enjoy about not having it is seeing the pitchers bat, which is really strange for an AL fan.

 

[w.mj]

The designated hitter is terrible. It takes strategy fromt he game not only in pinch-hitter, double-switch, reliever, type questions, but also because managers and team management do not have to decide how much defense can be sacrificed to gain hitting. David Ortiz can play first base, but he's a defensive liability. The game is more interesting with more variables, and the designated hitter reduces them.

 

[CunningSmeagol]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Not a fan of DHs. While you're at it, why don't you field a team of defensive players and a team of offensive players a la football?

Exactly. There's also a certain charm in watching a pitcher get a clutch hit.

 

[scotsman]

I don't like the designated hitter. But what I really don't like is the difference between the two leagues. Either have the DH in both leagues or eliminate it.

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

The source of all evil in the world.

Originally Posted by countdemoney

+1

Especially with good teams and close games, it's always exciting to watch the managers roll the dice on how long to leave pitchers in and when they have to start making moves.

I still mourn the loss of Whitey Herzog.

What they said ^^