Should baseball abolish the DH or should the NL use the DH as well?

[HollywoodLeo]

I really enjoy the strategy involved with trying to work around the pitcher's spot in the line up. I think a lot of the strategy that makes the game so great is removed when a DH is inserted.

A counter-argument could be that the pitcher's spot in the line up is a virtual waste, save for the Carlos Zambranos and Micah Owings of the world.

Or is the diversity of the two leagues with their separate rule books too good of a thing to screw with at all?

[General]

I used to be for the DH in both leagues, but I have since wavered into disliking the DH. Having a pitcher bat, to me, is part of the game.


Either way, both leagues should have the same rules when it comes to the DH.

[catman]

I like the rules being different in both leagues. I also think that when the AL teams host NL teams, they should play under NL rules, and vice versa. This will give the fans a chance to see the "other" style of play.

[DravenX]

I have thought about it a little in the past. I've thought about if it would be better if both leagues were the same but right now I'm pretty happy the way it is currently.

[realmofotalk]

Although it's frustrating to have a scoring opportunity ruined by a pitcher who is inept with a bat, I must conclude it's nice for a young pitcher like Kershaw to have a breather in practically every ninth plate appearance and not have to pitch through an American League style lineup twice in 3 innings.

[ljshorty89]

I've wrestled with this debate for years, because my dad loves to argue it too. I honestly prefer traditional, lower scoring, high strategy games. I think that forcing pitchers to be able to bunt(AL pitchers, and even some NL pitchers often have trouble), forcing the entire lineup to be better situational hitters(suicide squeezes, hitting to the right side, sacrifice flies, etc), and seeing pitchers go deeper into games is the best thing we could do. I'd be all for removing the DH from the AL.

If not that, I don't like the idea of playing the visiting team's style...it completely reverses home field advantage. Which basically leaves it the way it is. The way it is isn't bad, but I think I'd prefer no DH at all...

[HollywoodLeo]

No DH doesn't really help pitchers go deeper into games. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

If it's the 7th inning of a one run game and the pitcher's spot is up the NL manager is apt to pinch hit to try and get (or further) the lead, whereas the AL pitcher can let his line up keep going and not have to worry about pulling his pitcher.

[catman]

There are a few pitchers that prefer to play in the NL because they like to hit once in a while (Micah Owings for example). Some prefer to pitch in the AL because they have not hit since highschool.

[ljshorty89]

No DH doesn't really help pitchers go deeper into games. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

If it's the 7th inning of a one run game and the pitcher's spot is up the NL manager is apt to pinch hit to try and get (or further) the lead, whereas the AL pitcher can let his line up keep going and not have to worry about pulling his pitcher.

Having to face a DH creates more stress, more runs, forces a pitcher to throw more pitches, and likely leave the game earlier. Yes, you are more apt to get pinch hit for, but there's a HUGE difference between facing a guy like David Ortiz(in his prime), Jason Giambi(in his prime), Hideki Matsui, etc 3 times per game or facing AJ Burnett, John Lackey, or Mark Buehrle 3 times per game...

[HollywoodLeo]

Having to face a DH creates more stress, more runs, forces a pitcher to throw more pitches, and likely leave the game earlier. Yes, you are more apt to get pinch hit for, but there's a HUGE difference between facing a guy like David Ortiz(in his prime), Jason Giambi(in his prime), Hideki Matsui, etc 3 times per game or facing AJ Burnett, John Lackey, or Mark Buehrle 3 times per game...

Interesting points.

I may look up some averages and statistics when I have more time.

[Slyder]

You lose so much strategic opportunities by having the dh in the AL. It requires the manager to constantly keep his head in the game as you have to worry about the lineup more. Plus gives pitchers an opportunity to "police themselves" if a pitcher hits a couple guys, put the dh in and you have no direct retribution.