MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said today at the owners’ meetings that the league is not interested in considering certain union-proposed changes in advance of the 2019 season, as Ronald Blum of the AP reports. In particular, Manfred indicated he is not open to the introduction of the designated hitter to the National League.
It emerged recently that MLB and the MLB Players Association were exchanging proposals on a variety of significant potential rules changes. Some of those, including the introduction of a twenty-second pitch clock and a rule requiring any pitcher that enters a game to face at least three hitters, were set forth by the league.
Manfred indicated that he was pleased the union responded to the league’s proposals, a fact which some observers have pointed to as a positive step given the chilly (if not altogether frozen) negotiation atmosphere between the sides of late. Despite the less-testy signals, though, it seems the league isn’t inclined to budge on any substantive matters.
It’s not at all surprising to hear that MLB doesn’t wish to pursue an immediate implementation of the DH in the NL. With a good bit of the offseason movement already in the books, it’d be an odd time to make such a move. That’s all the more true of some of the other union-backed proposals involving draft incentives and service time, which surely would require extensive analysis and negotiation.
It is notable, though, that Manfred suggested the league is also generally not receptive to considering the expansion of the DH until the conclusion of the present Collective Bargaining Agreement, at the end of the 2021 campaign. An unnamed official told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that such a change is “not happening during this CBA.”
If that is indeed MLB’s committed stance, it seems to represent an intention to take a hard line on reopening the current rules regime before the deal is up. The issue of the universal DH seemed at least to offer a potential path to mutual benefit, as the league could market a bump in offense while veteran sluggers would find easier paths to roster spots and extra earnings.
Manfred, though, characterized that proposal (and others from the union) as presenting “significant economic issues” that are “different than the type of playing rule changes that we have out there.” That’s certainly true to an extent, but it’s also a bit of a partisan characterization of the league’s own suggestion that pitchers be required to face at least three batters. It’s debatable exactly how the ramifications of that rule would settle out in terms of player earnings, but it would certainly impact the way teams structure their rosters and invest in certain players (in that case, veteran LOOGYs) in much the same way as a universal DH.
It’ll be interesting to see where these discussions go from here. Manfred says the league “will engage on” the subjects raised by the union, so perhaps there’s still some room for an opening. It all takes place against the backdrop of a still-sluggish free agent market in which two young superstars and several other prominent players remain unsigned. Manfred acknowledged today that the hope is to see both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado under contract when Spring Training opens, though even if that occurs it’s hardly a guarantee of a reduction in tension. For the time being, both the league and union will presumably continue to trade words on these and other matters — cognizant all the while that these may be the preliminary skirmishes of a building public relations battle.
Not really news. It means they’re not doing it for 2019, which could have been assumed.
Do you know what else could have been assumed? Everything. Thanks for playing the obvious game. That said, I agree that most of the proposals are just that…proposals, and most will not be seriously considered at this point. MLB is 100% about ratings, which is why it is such a ridiculous and irrational league.
Every sport is 100% about ratings because ratings equal $$$. Don’t like it? Watch some sitcoms or Netflix.
So stop watching sports and watch something that is 100% about ratings? Got it.
I know. What a “make baseball great again” like thing to say. Vomit…
I think the point is that baseball is all about ratings, but has no idea how to improve them.
Meanwhile the NFL and NBA just continue to kill it at every turn, even if it’s sometimes in spite of themselves.
Netflix actually produces a lot of good shows and movies.
There’s a joke about the money baseball makes compared to Netflix but I’m too lazy to think about one. I’ll be watching Netflix now.
They would probably get the ratings if every team tried competing and we didn’t have these generational talents sitting in free agency with spring training about to start
Stop with the “generational talent” nonsense. I don’t know where that came from. Mike Trout is a “generational talent”. Ken Griffey Jr. was a “generational talent” Harper and Machado are nice players. All star players, even. But neither are top 10 in the game. Nobody wants to pay them what they are asking. So let them continue to sit there.
Name a league that isnt about maximizing its tv ratings?
Braves don’t care about ratings
i mean, thinking such a major change could be imminent is foolish, yet some people still did.
22zer0 Testy eh? Warm bowl of milk. We love baseball, remember?
Yeah, but we don’t love baseball being played at cricket speed!
I’d be OK with 2 batters for a pitcher. 3 seems a bit much. And, yes, I know the DH has been around somewhere, or at least considered somewhere, for a century now.
Still don’t want it in the NL.
Still wish we didn’t have interleague baseball.
Definitely wish we had either 28 or 32 teams, so Commissioner Corleone couldn’t force year-round interleague down our throats.
And, no, I don’t need a warm bowl of milk.
And the other leagues are not about ratings? I suppose the nfl abolished kneeling because it would make the players happy. Smh.
It also said that Commissioner Corleone doesn’t want to visit this at all under the current contract. That IS news.
I thought Selig was a dummy but Manfred makes him look smart.
Let the game alone, if you think is too long don’t watch it. Don’t mess with 100+ years of history.
I looked at it from this angle: I want to see the game 60 years from now, the game has to survive. As long as it doesn’t mess with Games/season, innings, etc. I’m all for some minor changes, starting with the DH. 3 batters/pitcher is a little extreme even for me.
Couldn’t agree with you more. It needs to be able to survive but the 3 batters thing is awful. I mean, I hate it when the other team used 4 pitchers in an inning but it’s all strategic and I would hate it even more if they took that out.
To me the pitching changes are great- it adds to the strategy. But something needs to happen to the PROCESS of changing a pitcher.
Why does a manager need to walk to the mound to change a pitcher? Why can’t it be done in the dugout and they can talk when the pitcher gets back? Yeah, sometimes the pitcher pushes back and wants to stay in, but that’s rare during the 4 pitchers an inning strategy.
Use a cart to bring the pitcher in from
the bullpen. It would save 30 seconds or so versus running in.
This one may be harder, but does a relief pitcher REALLY need to warmup on the mound after warming in a bullpen? Not being able to throw as many pitches would both speed up pitching changes by a good 2 mins and would probably add more offense.
Yeah you would lose revenue from pitcher changes commercials, but if it means near instantaneous pitching changes, add an ad to the hat for all I care. There’s already a new era logo on one side.
Great point. Keep the integrity and history the same, but speed up the processes leading up to the game. Really surprised this isnt discussed more often.
Very creative ideas.
Too late Teal. Game has already been tinkered with. Even in the last 30 years. Hasn’t been for the better. Both ratings and average age median of fans reflect that.
Very well said Reaper. MLB popularity is almost non existent in the African American community for one.
Steven – Upper-Middle class America (and Canada) can afford to send their kids to the elite baseball programs and showcase their talent in-front of scouts from NCAA, Juco and pro scouts.
Hockey is expensive. That is why the league is predominately white. This is not to say African American/Canadians are poor, but old money never gets old.
Also, idols. Basketball has idols, Football has idols. Who are the idols for the African American community in baseball? The excuse is “______ is from the Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico/Venezuela.” The idols of young athletes inspire them to follow in their footsteps. Baseball loses in that regard.
So your argument is that Latin American blacks are more successful than North American blacks because Latin Americans have more resources to learn the sport?
That’s a bold statement. You might wanna research it a bit.
^WHAT??? Hell no.
Less African Americans participate in baseball. Some of it’s economic, most of it is the players they idolize happen to play other sports.
You might want to bring a real argument to the grownups table, child.
Look at the presence MLB teams have had for years in the Dominican Republic with the academies. Do you think they’ve put that much effort into US inner cities?
To be honest, it’s a pretty fair assessment. MLB and teams pay a lot of money to put up baseball schools and camps and such in Latin American countries. In the US, they rely mostly on public schools paying for the basics, and individual families shouldering the cost of traveling teams and the like.
Sully and Steve have it right; a lot of hispanic players have given back to their community and MLB teams were proactive in the 1970s setting up baseball schools and housing young, aspiring players. Pirates, Dodgers and Blue Jays benefited.
LOL so much wrong with this analysis.
Stany – stand down soldier.
Puig, was your reply meant for me?
do you have an opinion or are you just on this blog to criticize others?
The game is constantly changing. CONSTANTLY. The game is constantly evolving. CONSTANTLY.
I don’t get you people.
Changing is not synonymous with evolving. You do not get people because your mind is simple.
Old people (in physical age or mentality-age) all hate change and that’s why they universally SUCK.
Finish your hot pocket kid and go to bed. Don’t forget to brush your teeth, they’re filthy.
We got old because we’re lucky…might happen to you, if you play your cards right…
What a ridiculous thing to say. Shows total ignorance of history, too. If there’s one thing constant through baseball history, it’s this: THE RULES KEEP CHANGING.
100 years ago, in 1919, pitchers were throwing spitballs covered in so much dirt, it was almost impossible to see, the center field wall was over 550 feet away, the same ball was used for 100 or more pitches (which made it impossible to hit for any distance after 20 or so uses), and, as a result, baseball was in a period known as the Dead Ball Era (because games averaged 3 runs, and no one was hitting double digit home runs). That era ended a few years later, due to MASSIVE changes to the rules. Without those changes Babe Ruth would’ve died in anonymity, and baseball would’ve went the way of bladderball and board track racing.
Most 21st century Americans would probably have no idea it ever existed. Best case scenario, the sport would’ve been reduced to a hobby practiced by a few amateurs, with no one watching.
Can’t agree more….. at least the games are now more fair with the challenge, but there are a few more chances needed to make it level playing field and ensure that the best team will win. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the WS, but the season is WAY TOO LONG. If you can’t figure out after 162 games who won then there is something seriously wrong. Get rid of the AL & NL, one big league with the same rules, every team plays each other on the road and at home and after 162 games you have a winner. I know, i know… we need to keep playing to ensure that the owners can afford paying $30M per season for a single player, but after around 100 games I am done with baseball……….
Actually, league leaders at least were in double digits throughout the deadball era. And Ruth already hit 29 in 1919, which is still considered deadball. baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_leagues.shtml
Many of those were inside the park home runs.
Also, a number of rules changes happened over a period of 1905-20. The “dead ball” vs “live ball” doesn’t have fully sharp demarcations. socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-walter-joh…
Well, many … in some cases. Ruth in 1919 wasn’t legging out a lot of in-the-park home runs.
A lot of that, of course, was from the old, old parks being humongous, more than speed of batters, even per what I just said about Ruth. So, kind of a wash.
Also, re the OP on this subthread, it wasn’t just rules changes. Per the link in my second comment, to my blog post, a livelier ball was introduced in 1920, too.
I agree. Changing the game in order to cater to the masses who have a short attention span is simply diminishing the game in general.
Snobs are losers. That’s why they’re snobs. If they weren’t losers, they wouldn’t feel the need to pretend they are superior to “the masses”.
A short attent …….what???
nah, it’s the most ridiculous thing that we have 6 leagues, with different rules in NL vs. AL and after 162 games we do not have the best teams in the play offs. Fix at least the DL rule and stop risking SP getting hurt and the huge advantage of the NL teams during the play offs.
Lame.
Fix the stupid unbalanced schedule. 15 teams playing 12 games a year against each other is 168 games. You can have a longer schedule when we know who categorically are the best team, as they got the best record from playing the same amount of home and away games against all the other teams in the league. At most you go back to ALCS, NLCS and WS, but you could also go straight to WS. Every game in September would be like a playoff game.
Wait do you want to go back to when they didn’t use gloves and pitchers throw underhand then?
I LOVE baseball. I would like Manfred to leave it alone. the union wants the rule change so it will be a bargaining chip. What really hurts it is the constant pitching and offensive “playing the odds”. Madden probably costs the game 10 minutes each time out and manages to wear out his bullpen by seasons end. Leave the game alone!
I am in agreement, sir. The Game of Base Ball has gone down hill since the National League changed the requirement to earn a “base on balls” from nine balls to eight! Balderdash! These young men should not be so easily granted a “free base”; they should have to earn it, fairly, through diligence and patience. The Game has surely declined since we allowed the shiftless Irishman into the League!
You got some chuckles out of me, Gasu.
Funny
It is too long. AND, it wasn’t always that way. Just 25 years ago, games were 15 minutes shorter, and “just” 40 years ago, it was almost 40 minutes shorter: baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/misc.shtml
You do realize that the advent of the bullpen as we see it now is recent, right? Recency bias is strong in you.
I’ll get downvoted to oblivion but why not an 8-man lineup? No DH, and no pitchers batting. The DH is inane to begin with. Why should someone just be a designated batter anyway? “Hey, look at me, I can’t field a position, but I sure do want to bat!” And pitchers batting is a joke too. They risk injury and for what? Sacrifice bunt? Bat .100?
Although I still believe pitchers should work harder to be better hitters and do away with the DH, I kinda think your idea of an 8-man lineup isn’t bad. I wouldn’t be mad at it.
You literally have no idea how hard hitting is then. Great. Grow up, you don’t know it all.
Hint: hitting is terribly, terribly hard and pitchers often have different body types than hitters. Many, MANY, almost ALL pitchers simply cant and NEVER WILL be able to do it. Its literally two totally different things.
This is you when you say ” I still believe pitchers should work harder to be better hitters”:
“I think people who know how to brush their teeth should also know advanced calculus.”
@Strike Four You know nothing. Maybe you should take calculus.
Every single pitcher in baseball at one point knew how to hit. You don’t play little league and high school ball and even college ball without knowing how to hit. Truth is over time they are told to focus on pitching and pitching only. That’s why you see some players convert from hitters to pitchers after they strike out trying the other in the minors. Tons of players are drafted every year and moved from the position they are in to another, including from a positional player to a pitcher.
For example, the Giants own Derek Rodriguez was drafted as an outfielder before converting in the minors. So was Derek Lane, Jason Matte, Carlos Marmol, Rafael Soriano, Joe Nathan, Sean Doolittle, Kenley Jansen…
“Every single pitcher in baseball at one point knew how to hit.” absolute lies, my god you are clueless.
I stand by the statement: the same amount of hitters who can pitch are the same as the amount of pitchers who can hit – neither are worthwhile making compulsory. THEY ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VERY DIFFICULT SKILLS. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.
So is playing defense and pitching, but pitchers have to do that too. So is chewing gum and walking, but people have to do that. In your argument, there should be a defensive player for every offensive player. Let’s change the MLB to the NFL.
Absolute lies? Clueless? I’m an ex-baseball player. I’ve been following the sport for four decades. I just gave you a ton of examples why your argument is factless and yet your rebuttal is ‘I’m clueless and it’s all lies.”
Grow up. Learn how to debate intelligently with facts that back up your statements. Learn how to get a point across without CAPS and insults.
@Strike Four, I’ll go a bit further and say that if the DH was never allowed, most pitchers would be better hitters now and we would even have more players like Otani, who exceed at both. By the same token, we probably wouldn’t have so many pitchers throwing 100MPH+ since the route to the Majors would be different than it is now. We also wouldn’t have the slow pace of game issues that we do now, the endless pitcher changes and openers that plague the American Leage more than the National League.
Hey Strike Zero-Clue sorry I didn’t get back to ya on this.
Considering grown men in Major League baseball won’t make less than $500,000+ per year, they can pay for a year-round hitting coach to make them better. So yes, they should work harder to be better. Just like position players should work harder on their defense if they suck in the field.
Hitting IS hard. That is why the commissioners office continues to help hitters with ideas of lowering the mound and allowing padding on a hitters elbow and forearm. Hitters are allowed more advantages today than ever before. Why? Because mental midgets like yourself feel they are entitled to it.
I doubt you brush your teeth.
I actually have never heard this idea and I’m giving you an upvote for it even though I think there’s a good reason to have a DH. As I’ve said below, adding the universal DH rather then removing it allows guys to play to a later age, allows you to rest guys, offers versatility. It goes in line with MLB’s movement to keep guys healthier for longer as the strains on the body have increased over time (increased velocity, heavier workout regiments, etc all strain these players to the max).
The DH has a lot of uses. I don’t think removing it is the right solution. I also don’t think its fair that all DH’s are terrible fielders. Some guys, like Ortiz, got severe heel problems as their careers went on. When he was younger and healthier and playing 1B regularly Ortiz actually wasn’t abysmally bad. He wasn’t good, but he was serviceable at about the league average over 600+ innings in 2003-2004. As his health deteriorated he couldn’t play the field, but man would the world have been cheated if you made him retire in 2005…
But I DO love the outside the box thinking and the idea that there are more solutions if we get creative.
Your namesake would not approve of your suggestion. This is what he tweeted: Universal DH?!?!? t.co/qNLnKHFAS6
Because you have to earn ABs by pushing the lineup. Right now every batter is guaranteed 3 ABs. Each batter pushed means your best hitters get one extra AB.
Nine is the perfect number.
Completely agree…no downvote here. While we’re at it, let’s get rid of kickers in the NFL. Think of all the strategy that would infuse into that sport! (I’m on the other team’s 35; do go for it? Punt?).
Pitchers hitting is just silly, and for all the strategy it supposedly encourages, it usually doesn’t amount to anything. Instead of the endless rule changes (NFL) and debates (MLB), let’s use the KISS system; i.e. Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Punters are kickers…
I have never understood the “they risk injury” argument. What about the DHs? Is it okay for them to risk unjury doing the exact same things that are “too dangerous” for pitchers to do. Pitchers are well-trained professional athletes. They are at no more injury risk than any other batter.
I don’t think the argument is ‘they risk injury’, the argument is, because they don’t hit and run in the AL there is an increased risk of injury when playing a NL team in a NL park. Everything is commercial in Baseball so why on earth would there be different rules between AL and NL, risk you key player to get hurt (Baseball is pitching) with the obvious HUGE disadvantage for the AL, because it’s much easier to put someone in the DL position than have a pitcher hit who has not picked up a bat since little league.
hmm, as much as i find it a bit weird you might be on to something. Removing that slot would even out the teams, (which i dont think is a an issue, but evidently the league does) and it would also allow hitters heading the order to get some more at bats, which would lead to more offense, which im sure the league wants. so perhaps you can execute a net gain in offense while eliminating pitchers hitting and the DH debate entirely. while id like things the way they are, i think this is not a bad compromise, if the league truely thinks one is needed.
Well, the main reason to not go to an eight man lineup is that a lot of hitters would lose their jobs. Another one is that pitchers would be taken out even faster (because statistics show that letting an average or below average starter pitch to the same batter a third time results in a worse outcome than bringing in a middle inning reliever.
As a consequence, more pitchers would be used. More pitchers = more devastating arm injuries requiring costly medical procedures (not just monetarily costly, surgery is taxing to a person’s body, the patient has to take pain meds and risk addiction, the surgery can go wrong, etc.).
So it’s not a good idea. What could be done is make the DH only stand in for the starter. That way, you would be able to keep the late game tactics (since once you take out the starter, you lose the DH, and you have to pinch hit or make double switches), without having to watch the pitcher hit.
They’d have a job. They’d be on the bench or be forced to play in the field. 8-man lineup would not mean roster sizes shrinking from 25 to 24. So no, hitters would only lose a starting job but not a paycheck.
More pitchers would be used? Yeah, sure.
You might want to follow the rules of baseball. Or watch maybe once.
It’s a nice idea, better than universal dh
I’m interested in knowing what the union dues are for each player.
socalblake…….
I’ll have to double check the current CBA but it was $75/day(during the season) per player.
socalblake……
They have gone up since last I looked………….
Q: How much are union dues?
A: The players’ dues are $85 per day during the season.
MLBPA FAQ link….. mlbplayers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=34…
So a rookie making the minimum pays the same dues as, say, Stanton?
Yep…it’s a flat rate.
thanks for the link. 🙂
My Pleasure. It used to be spelled out in the CBA’s but I couldn’t find it in the current one so I went to the source…the MLBPA
DH is not used for huge bats anymore. Its to give people a day off defensively every now and again and to call up a minor league kid for some swings. I would like to see a DH in the NL but im ehh about it.
Its used for both really. J.D. Martinez at this point is a DH, not really an OF. He can still play outfield, kind of like Frank Thomas could still play 1B.
What the DH does, is allows guys like Frank Thomas to play beyond the age they would be able to play if they continued to field. It also as you said, allows you to protect your assets (think of the Yankees rotating DH to rest Judge/Stanton/Sanchez). Those are all big bats though. There are some teams that use it for rest, or to give themselves defensive versatility, but don’t kid yourself. If there’s a DH in the NL, many teams will go the Martinez/Cruz route, or consider guys they wouldn’t have due to defensive limitations. Think about how many more NL teams might be in on Harper? There’s a lot of dynamics to consider here. Implementing it on the fly and saying “just use it for rest” would still put the NL at a disadvantage.
This is smart. I am a strong believer in the universal DH, but NL teams should be given ample time to plan out their organizations before its implementation. Some teams could still get a jump start and sign a DH for a year or two to play 1B or OF if they wanted a guy long-term (J.D. Martinez for example).
I’d say 2021 or 2022 is a good timeline to set. Give teams 2-3 years to plan out their strategy moving forward before implementation. This also deals with the resistance to make this change before the current CBA expires. I’d set it in stone though, rather then waiting to discuss as a fair compromise. “This is coming. Get ready.”
The DH needs to be in both or neither. Time to decide.
I’m all for the NL getting DH, so long as there’s something the league wants it gets, which I’m sure it will. I’d also love love love to see games start more around 5:30-6, but I realize that’s not going to happen and it’s a personal preference.
I like the 3 hitter minimum as well, def think something like that is needed to cut down on all the damn pitching changes in a game. it’s like the timeouts and fouls in basketball. Nothing ruins the game (for me) more than that.
Nick Castellanos and Jose Martinez awaiting DH news with bated breath.
Something MUST be done about those long, extra innings games tho.
Yeah, get more of them. They’re the most exciting in baseball 😀
Cap staffs at 11 pitchers would likely solve the long game problem. I’m in the minority but nothing wrong in any team sport with regular season ties. Cap extra innings at 12 or 13.
No to universal DH, yes to minimum required batters a RP must face. Studies have shown that replacing a pitcher batter with a DH will have a much smaller impact on scoring than most people believe because pitchers average less than 2 plate appearances a game. There is no reason to discard an aspect of the game that millions of people prefer so teams can score one more run a week.
The problem with the pitcher batting is it takes away from the number 8 hitter and leadoff hitter. I hate the number 8 hitter constantly getting walked to get to the pitcher. The number of big ABs by the 8 hitter are almost non-existent.
It’s bigger than just one spot in the lineup.
that is true about pitcher at bats, and more true given that starters are lasting less and less innings now.
Pitchers used to know how to hit and put. Game has too many specialists. How about making them earn the last part of their salary and learn that hitting is part of baseball. I said it before, the NBA makes you learn how to shoot free throws. Kobe never went to the line for Shaq.
If the NL adopts the DH; it needs to be placed 9th in the batting order.
Why? Quite a few pitchers bat 8th? I like the creativity, but I don’t get the restriction. They don’t seem connected to me.
I get the thought though about how it alters lineup construction.
MLB doesn’t want to expand the DH because that means the teams spending more money. The rich are getting more and more greedy.
There is going to be a strike.
Is it the owners? The owners want a 26th man. The players don’t. I believe the owners want a DH. And the players are balking.
It makes no sense to me.
The players want the DH. It extends careers. It puts a guy who can hit but not field or is too old to field on the team. The player’s association is the one pushing for it.
I think Manfred wants the DH because he loves scoring. Maybe he’s not scoring enough a home….
I think that’s probably changed though, over time. #1, payroll is at the lowest percentage of revenues it’s been since pre-Marvin Miller days. And #2, MOST teams use the DHs to “rest” regulars rather than employ a certain guy to occupy the slot. Or to mask a chronically poor defensive player.
But ya, there’s gonna be a strike……
Quite the opposite. I’d suggest that most teams would rather protect the money they are spending on high end pitchers by adding a DH. Why have Clayton Kershaw running the bases? Even if Grienke wants to bat, do you think the owners aren’t biting their nails on every pitch?
If that’s their point of view, its short-sighted.
In terms of a strike? I don’t think so. Baseball is at its peak in revenue. The owners will compromise rather then risk it all collapsing. They are right now sending a strong message to players (and its the right message) that baseball has become about trying to get additional value for your money. That’s what the teams that are winning and making the playoffs every year do. Even the Sox who spend freely have no contracts beyond 7 years and the Price contract was shocking when it was approved by ownership. This is going to be their challenge in signing Betts.
The AAV can continue to rise. Owners won’t fight that as long as revenue rises. What they will fight, is issuing 8-10+ year contracts. I expect we will start to see more $40 mil+ AAV contracts in coming years with much lesser durations. 5-7 year maxes. Its hard to project value at longer durations and almost impossible to get any added value out of a guy you are paying 30+ mil. The players have to compromise a bit on this end as well. The owners can’t be assuming all the risk and just throwing money out there because they have it.
The other problem is that this would not be the case if the lower spending teams got up to scale. No one expects you to be spending $200 million, but if you can’t sustain a $100 million payroll and revenue in baseball is doing that well, there’s major problems with your location. Salary floor is a must. Its not like the Yankees aren’t going to start throwing money around again. They are just being smart for awhile.
This article seems to see the debate about expanding the DH as primarily about the relationship between the owners and the union. That is the wrong headed approach. The real issue is not one of short term financial adjustments, it is about fundamentally changing how the game is played in the National League.
Overwhelmingly NL fans DO NOT WANT to see the DH rule imposed on them. The owners and players can find other ways to deal with their financial tensions that do not involve pissing off half their fan base on a daily basis.
im pretty sure the overwhelming number of true fans of each league are content with their league’s usage or lack thereof in regards to the DH. that should be something the league takes into account in this debate.
The worst reason in the world to keep doing something is
“because we’ve always done this-it’s tradition!”
I think Manfred is saying no not right away because he wants something in trade from the union.
Call me crazy but I find pitchers getting destroyed at the plate against other pitchers is funny and entertaining. I never get tired of it. I also like pitchers that CAN hit. Being a fan of an AL team, I’ve watched my managers get exposed in interleague NL parks which means the strategy is something to consider keeping.
Teams being in the National or American league is for the most part arbitrary at this point, which makes having a DH in one league, but not the other even more arbitrary. Have it in both or have it in neither. Personally, I’d rather see someone with a better bat than see a pitcher hit .125 and look lost at the plate more often than not, but that’s just me.
Is there any logical argument for why one league has it and one doesn’t? No, I don’t consider “that’s how it’s always been done” as overly logical. Teams have tradition; uniforms, logos, HOF talent, etc. Do rules really have that kind of tradition / nostalgia / golden age type of deal in sports?
If you like the DH, watch the American League. If you like “small ball,” watch the National League. Please do not disrupt the beauty of baseball. Avoid NHL-Syndrome where they are forever trying to appease fairweather fans. There’s a unique charm to the approaches of each the NL & AL.
amen, cant agree more
Curious, what do you feel the NHL has done for the purpose of appeasing “fairweather” fans?
Josh, to be brief as this is a baseball site … shootouts, the disappearance of body contact, and the direct opposition to fighting. Hockey is no longer hockey. Vive les Nordiques!
Paraphrasing…”This is exciting hockey! No more red line!!!” – Pierre McGuire
God, you sound like a soccer fan, applauding movement for the sake of movement over authoritative game consequences..
At least one interleague series is played at all times during the entire season. The league got rid of separate umps and separate league offices long ago, free agency bounces players back and forth between the AL and NL – there is little, if any, two-league charm any more.
Why anyone would rather see a pansy bunt or wait an indeterminate number of years and/or decades to see your favorite pitcher hit a fluke HR, or get all giddy and shout “hooray for the double switch!” that everyone inexplicably claims to be part of a chess match except that every NL manager knows what’s coming, vs. a straight-up hitter try to mash a ball like every other hitter is beyond me.
I’ve been accused of many things in my life that I can tolerate, but “soccer fan” ain’t one. Soccer is organized jogging – nothing more. Don’t tamper with the unique nature of baseball. Perhaps you don’t have a baseball IQ high enough to understand “small ball.” Is this John Farrell to whom I’m responding? That you John?
“vs. a straight-up hitter try to mash a ball like every other hitter is beyond me.”
Yes, watching every single batter take golf swings at every pitch is so exciting. TTO is much better than actual baseball, you are right.
There are very, VERY few teams actually playing “small ball” these days. The stolen base and bunt have all but disappeared in favor of swinging out of your shoes every pitch and trying to lift everything to high heaven.
The NL Owners are opposed to the DH and the AL Owners want the DH. The NL will play by AL rules in an AL parks.
All in or nothing! The American is superior. Go Phillies!
Good
Now drop the stupid proposal about pitchers facing 3 batters minimum
Weird, I really thought that the DH would be implemented in the NL somewhere during Manfred’s term. Glad that doesn’t seem to be happening!
Now lets hope that all of those other changes effecting the way the game can be played and managed (like ‘a pitcher has to pitch to at least 3 batters’) are quickly wiped of the table as well. The key to getting more interesting and/or quicker games is changing the attitude of all involved (and that includes the media), not changing the way the game is played.
I am a fan of the pitcher hitting! I love small ball and double switches, and the strategy the NL game brings to the table.
With that said, I also wan both sides to do everything possible to avoid a strike/lockout. If that means giving into the DH for the NL then so be it. You have to be willing to give a little to get a little. I just want both sides to come to an agreement and baseball continue!
Giving in to the DH is more than giving a “little”. It is the destruction of baseball tradition.
Well if there is a strike or lockout that could be the destruction of baseball all together.
Ah yes, good old baseball tradition. While you’re at it, let’s make baseball great again by getting rid of all the dark-skinned players. We can change the name of the game to Trump Ball.. Build a huge wall around every stadium to ensure that none of them try to sneak in.
Why is universal non-DH ever a subject for discussion? Get rid of DH. Make baseball great again.
Someone on another thread mentioned an idea by Buck Showalter where teams would have a DH, but ONLY as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. Once he exits, the DH spot becomes the pitcher/pinch hitters spot.
This would eliminate most AB’s by pitchers but keep (or possibly even increase) the amount of strategy of the NL game.
The union would fight this, though…they aren’t going to go along with the idea that Stanton has to come out after one at bat because Sabathia got lit up in the first inning. Perhaps the rules could allow the DH to be moved into a position player spot to avoid this problem.
Seems like a compromise that should satisfy most parties involved.
somewhere, Michael Lorenzen rojoices
instead of the dh, why not designated fielders? runners?… that way no one gets hurt doing something that isnt their specialty. /s
in the grand scheme i dint think the dh is worth it. if they want to tinker with the way they pitch to pitchers fines if hit or something maybe. these are world class athletes. they should be able to stand in the box and fake it.
i could be for a designated runner for pitchers should the reach. especially in colder months now that i think about it. duno how it would work though
Why would the league want a bump in offense when such likely would make the average game longer? Get rid of the DH, limit pitching staffs to 11, remove one thirty second commercial from every break and call regular season games a tie if not won in 12 innings. Yes it would involve giving back fees but those extra commercials were added in over the years to begin with.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO CLOCKS IN BASEBALL!! STOP CHANGING THE GAME!!
Im not in favor of the dh, i prefer the NL play style. That said dh in both leagues or neither for the sake of fairness. As it stands now the AL has a huge advantage in contract negotiations. The AL can offer an extra year or two to a slugger knowing they can transition him to dh at end keeping the bat in the line up. The NL would have to field the player at end of a career when a players defense declines. This is added value that a league which uses the dh has. In practical terms the Al is currently assuming lesser risk on long term contracts and on older position players.
That three hitter pitching rule is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
All it does is get rid of the LOOGY, which I like but also find odd they are trying to add 15 jobs in the NL but at the same time re-assign 30 pitching jobs.
As an Astros fan, i used to be an NL purist. Then, I discovered the joy of not watching pitchers hit.
I think the NL snobs have a right to their opinion, but I think they are wrong.
The worst play in sports is a pitcher bunting when there is already one out. Just because he is clueless with a bat in his hands.
It’s not snobby to not embrace advancement. These people are merely old, and nothing more.
When people say they hate baseball, ask them what game they were watching when they figured that out – chances are it was clownshoes, boring as hell, NL ball.
You post like you’re 12 damn years old. Grow the hell up, kid. Perhaps if you brought something valuable to the conversation your opinion might be appreciated.
Ive bought nothing but facts to the table, your only recourse is “i hate change” but the DH is almost 50 years old now, and you STILL cant get over it. Grow up.
I genuinely get more entertainment reading everyone’s comments than the actual story lol. Not just this thread but all the others as well. Thanks guys
The larger point here is MLB knows it won the last round of CBA negotiations and it’s not going to give anything back that’s substantive between now and then. So, what they really are negotiating is how to get the Union to agree to things that MLB might be able to impose on their own.
I agree baseball should wait on this rule, but it has to happen. Having two sets of rules because of tradition is why kids aren’t as in to the game. Is one year even enough though? I mean this is a chance it would of reshaped the past 3 drafts had national league been aware of the up coming change.
I love the 3 batter minimum idea for the most part. The one batter specialist has its place though. I mean, maybe you want a reliever to come in despite having pitched 2 or 3 straight games. I don’t think I want him forced to go 3 batters. So…I would tweak that rule. Maybe allow it once a game. Happens more then that, maybe walk the next batter and force the reliever who exited early to sit next two games.
Adds some strategy. And still allows for teams best relievers to come in and face a teams best hitters in key moment’s…keeping that drama
Glad to hear they’ve abandon that stupid DH in the NL. I still get to watch real baseball for maybe a couple of more years.
So you like when an AL team like Boston comes into an nl park, and late in games can have a triple crown candidate as a pinch hitter if they so choose?
Or what about when your team visits an AL park. You will usually be putting someone into that spot that would be a more balanced player then purely offensive. Sure you might move a less defensively adept player from your reg line up…but you are still putting in a bench player who is clearly as not as good offensively.
Given its a paid position, the American league will continue to have an advantage
Sorry…I had posted that on another thread…didn’t mean to repost
I would be ok with that. I find pitchers hitting fun. I just hate two different sets of rules
Which advantage is bigger:
1) While playing in an AL park, making the NL team use somebody that actually knows how to (and practices) hit?
Or
2) While playing an a NL park, making somebody that NEVER takes batting practice hit? Not to mention making the manager use strategies that he NEVER has to use in the AL.
I’d say the NL easily has the greater advantage. At least they have capable hitters to fill the DH spot and/or rotate their regulars.
No DH in the NL. If anything get rid of the DH in the AL.
DH is for uncoordinated bums who can’t play defense. Pretty much the same as pitchers who can’t hit a ball. Is baseball an offensive or defensive game? It depends on the day you watch. Both are exciting and potentially nail-biters.
Do away with DH. It just keeps old players and one dimensional players in the game.
So you would rather have no-dimensional hitters batting?
Id rather a pro hitter than an unpro hitter.
Also having a free out every 8 hitters means the quality of play is worse. Pitchers think they’re good because a pitcher killed another rally. AL pitchers are way tougher than NL pitchers, thats why AL pitchers do better in the NL than the other way around.
I would be ok with that. I find pitchers hitting fun. I just hate two different sets of rules
It would also meet the commish’s goal of speeding up the game. Couple automatic quick outs each game
It would also meet the commish’s goal of speeding up the game. Couple automatic quick outs each game.
I always thought they should maybe start a pitcher with a 1-0 count. Give them a fighting chance
I would prefer the two leagues remain different. Although I like the AL better, i think having variance between the two leagues adds a bit of charm to the game. For comparison, I think its neat that every field has its own unique dimensions. I couldnt think of a more boring thing than having uniform dimensions and the same can be said about the uniform DH rule.
I also do not think adding a universal DH would do much to help ratings. The only people who are aware of the debate about DH v noDH are already baseball fans. I doubt the casual fan cares either way. I get that there would be more offensive production, but offensive production has increased these last couple of years, if I’m not mistaken. I mean, the single season record for most HRs by a team was broken just last year and the WS has had wild wacky games (suspiciously so, to the point where people considered whether or not the balls were different) for the last two years.
Something I actually think would help ratings is better/more baseball video games. Now that the comic books & baseball card trading days are dead, kids are drawn to video games. I know i got into various sports based off my time playing the videogames as a kid. MLB the Show is MLBs only video game worth playing and its restricted to one console (PS4), which is a problem. NBA 2k and Madden crush it every year (in terms of sales, not quality) and its possibly because its on every platform. It also helps that their budget and marketing far surpasses that of MLB the Show. When MLB the Show bought exclusive rights to the MLB license, they effectively killed all their competition and now MLB the Show has been stagnant and it seems as if theyre barely surviving. After their exclusivity ended, only very small games like RBI baseball has managed to return. I think this situation has hurt the MLBs ratings. As video games continue to rise in popularity (see: Fortnite), the options for baseball games are extremely limited and not well executed.
Or teams can just retrain their pitchers to hit. They were all good hitters before being drafted. DH rule ain’t gonna save time. I’d love to see the average game time of the Red Sox/Yankees games last season. Probably close to 4 hrs avg
Yes because they have literal commercial breaks that aren’t part of the game. Pace of play is BS. Boston/NYY games all get extra long ad-breaks. Stop money-grubbing and suddenly they come back to 3 hours.
I have never seen a good argument for not having the DH. The strategy argument is lame (unless you one of those weirdos who lives for the double switch).
The DH rule is there for one purpose—because it supposedly attracts fans. It’s all about money. So theres really no legitimate reason to have a DH.
Why just stop at 1 DH? Maybe you have a weak-hitting gold glove caliber SS, or maybe Billy Hamilton. Why not have 3 or 4 DH’s? It wouldn’t be any more absurd than having 1 DH
Its one purpose is providing a professional that you paid to watch do a thing that you want an unprofessional to do. Why. Pitchers are as good at hitting as hitters are as good at pitching = it’s too rare an occurrence to make it a compulsory thing.
I’m not sure what you mean by unprofessional. All I know is every one of these guys spent the majority of their lives batting. And batting is the main reason they got drafted, in most cases. If you want to call them ‘specialists’, i can understand that. Would you be opposed to having a DH for every catcher as well? Because most catchers cant hit either
“batting is the main reason they got drafted, in most cases.” – this is 100% false.
“most catchers cant hit either” – this is also 100% false.
When you need to make up BS to defend your terrible position, you have lost. Good day, sir.
Ok, since you said it’s not so, it must not be so. Thanks oh mighty one. I guess rain is dry, as well. Thanks again
Exactly, Jimsouls, it’s literally old people saying “I hate change”. The DH in the AL is almost 50 years old, and we keep hearing how it “ruined baseball.” Oh really? So the last 50 years of the game are tainted? Exactly. Once again the old people are the ones who need to grow up.
So in other words, “since your argument is different than mine, then you are a weirdo and it’s a lame argument.” LOL.
No, you dont have an argument, at all. Other than “I want baseball to be the exact same game it was in 1910” get out of here.
I actually do, you just refuse to hear it good sir. There’s a difference between listening to the opposing side and refusing to acknowledge the other side. You unfortunately are choosing to do the latter.
I vote for a standard DH as the AL uses. Make a spot for some older players to hang on longer. Two many changes disrupt historical stats used to compare players.
slithering reptile!
Instead of adding the DH in the NL id rather get rid of the DH in the AL
Agreed. The DH sucks. It’s not real baseball. It’s like wiffleball rules in your cousins back yard when you were kids. Also, from my soapbox, I pronounce that instant replay sucks as well!
I think replay should only from 7th on at the very most. Before then, there is enough time to be a great team and rally. Breaks of baseball.
Any question of fan interference should be reviewed. Can’t have fans interacting with the game like that…and to prevent another poor Steve Bartman. Anyone who says they wouldn’t of reached for it is a liar
The DH is amazing, pitchers should hit as often as position players are asked to hit. What is the difference? You idiots accept the relief pitcher, the designated hitter provides relief from forcing us to watch someone off the street hit. I want to see professionals hit, why don’t you want that?
If you don’t want rule changes, go play rounders.
Would be pretty unfair to add the DH at this point in the off-season, but it is somewhat surprising Manfred said not in this CBA. Probably saving it as a concession to give to players in next negotiation lol.
One of my favorite Games i attended was Giants/Cubs in 2016. Bumgarner pitched a shutout and drove in the only run with a double off the wall. How cool is that!
So i say No on the DH. you have to play both sides of the ball. Whats next? Poor hitting slick fielding SS gets a DH?
Glad Ohtani proved someone could do both.
I think American League does have the advantages thou in the World Series which isn’t fair. Also I have no problems with pitchers being forced to pitching to more than one batter unless he gives up a run.
I hate how people think the DH ruined the game, when the unbalanced schedule gave us fake playoff teams – any team that got swept out of the first round almost always just had a lot of wins against 90+ loss teams and went under .500 against all the best teams.
Since 1995, pretty much every single team that has been swept out of the DS in the first round did not deserve to be there and got there over a better, more deserving team, every year. Team location should not decide postseason status.
How is this not a bigger deal to people over not having to endure the horror that is watching a pitcher stand in a batters box? Few hitters get asked to pitch, that ratio should be the same with pitchers hitting – like 1% of guys should do it every year.
Strike Four
I agree re the unbalanced schedule, even though my team, the Dodgers, will be beneficiaries in 2019. Three teams in the NL West are essentially in the rebuilding mode. The Dodgers and Rockies each play 57 games against those teams. In the other two divisions, four teams apiece are vowing to compete. Not fair. What happened to Tampa Bay in 2018 was nauseating. Changing this should be priority #1 for MLB.
I would like to see baseball do something similar to what the NBA did. Two 15 teams leagues with no divisions. Top six in each league make the playoffs. Top two teams get a bye, teams 3-6 and 4-5 play best-of-three to qualify for division series. One additional playoff team would also create more fan interest.
The unbalanced schedule also affects roster building. Since the Dodgers are in a weak division, they can take longer to address weaknesses — maybe all the way to the July 31 trade deadline. Teams in the other divisions need to be set by opening day, or risk falling out of the race.
There is no benefit of having the pitcher bat except that it helps pitchers on the mound. Having your pitcher bunt every time he’s up at the plate because he can’t hit isn’t strategy
Intentionally walking a guy so you can get out of an inning is coward baseball.
Pitchers have killed more rallies than any other position in the game.
Not to mention if it’s much better baseball than why don’t NL teams let AL teams use the DH in their parks while the NL teams stick to their “strategy” ?
No one said it creates more offense. Some people just think it’s more enjoyable to watch because of the strategy element that goes along with it
The best part about baseball is how it is differentiated from other major US sports. It is unique how much strategy is involved per at bat and it is not a timed game. Human element is still involved in the officiating of the game. It is UNIQUE.
All of the changes since Manfred has taken over have been aimed at removing this uniqueness: the changes aimed at adding timing elements, instant replay of everything, inflated offense, removing the strategy of single batter specialists and double switches…I understand that they want to gain more fans, but they are really hurting the fans that like baseball so much because it is NOT football, basketball, or hockey. And there is a lot more of them than any new fans these changes are going to bring in.
Pitchers hitting genuinely destroys rallies and therefore the quality of play and there is nothing you can say to defend that.
I agree on the pace of play stuff though, but the DH MUST be installed in the NL.
Also, baseball strategy is merely “See ball, hit ball”. All that other stuff like hit n run has always been low percentage, bad baseball that for whatever reason people freak out about when it works, but it rarely does.
I love how you hate the DH but love single-batter double switches. JK I hate it. It’s the dumbest logic of all time. Also you hate how more offense makes baseball different to hockey or soccer? But you think low scoring games are “unique” to baseball for some reason?
I’d say you and people who hate the DH’s logic and reasoning skills are ruining baseball way more than the things they claim are.
You missed the ENTIRE point of this post because you are already DH biased and read what you wanted to read. No where was low scoring part of my list, if you aren’t very good at hitting, then GET BETTER AT IT. Baseball was never designed to be a sport that you only play one side of the ball for. A lot of poor defenders get stuck in right, so should we get a designated fielder next? A lot of catchers and first basemen aren’t very fast, automatic designated runner? Doesn’t make sense anywhere else either.
If you honestly believe baseball strategy is just see ball hit ball then I’m not at all surprised to see your attitude towards the DH and your attack on someone else for having an opinion that’s different than yours. I feel sorry for you because you are missing out on a very enjoyable part of the game.
I already posted this but here it is for you, sunshine:
You literally have no idea how hard hitting is then. Great. Grow up, you don’t know it all.
Hint: hitting is terribly, terribly hard and pitchers often have different body types than hitters. Many, MANY, almost ALL pitchers simply cant and NEVER WILL be able to do it. Its literally two totally different things.
This is you when you say ”I still believe pitchers should work harder to be better hitters”:
“I think people who know how to brush their teeth should also know advanced astrophysics”
Totally the same thing! Pitching is as easy as brushing your teeth and hitting is astrophysics, great comparison there.
Tradition matters to a lot of people man, I don’t know what else to tell you. Implementing the DH alomg with other changes ruins that tradition. I’m sorry my opinion is so much different than yours and that that offends you, but there’s not much I can do about that Mr. keyboard warrior.
No, its saying “you can do this one extremely hard thing, you should be able to do this other incredibly hard thing that is NOTHING LIKE the other one”
Tradition? The DH is almost 50 years old – the DH is the tradition. You want baseball to be rounders, not baseball. What a joke.
Damn, you anti-DH crowd are soooo easy to destroy. You have no argument, just accept that the DH rules and embrace it.
The non-DH is more than 100 years old. But you’re right, the DH has more tradition. I’m going to go find the big kids table now.
Well said!
Upvote for universal DH.
Or downvote for 8-man lineup.
Hey!!! Let’s DH for catchers too, since most of em cant hit. And who really wants to see Pete Kozma bat? Get him a DH too. Change the batting order every inning. Hey, fans want to see more runs, right? Move the fences in about 50 feet, and push the mound back 5 ft. That aughta bring in the fans.
Pete Kozma, he of “who wants to see him bat?” fame, career:
.215/.278/.291/.569
Madison Bumgarner, owner of TWO Silver Slugger Awards, for hitting, career:
.183/.228/.313/.540
You ever going to get tired of being wrong?
I’m not sure what you mean. You know its sarcasm, right?
Do you think adding 2 exclamation points on a dead serious post = sarcasm?
If anything, I hope you learned that sarcasm never ever works on message boards or comment threads unless you post /sarcasm font before it.
Yeeeaaaahhhh, I think you’re realizing its sarcasm, and are now trying to save face. I’m guessing you’re from NY. Have a nice evening.
You must end every joke you tell by saying “Get it?” followed by a detailed explanation of why it’s funny.
You told me it was sarcasm, genius.
Ok Im starting to see a trend here: anti-DH = anti-intellect.
Reading this comment section, I now realize that I’m not that bright. I have been mired in a back-and-forth with someone who brings nothing to the table, unless you count cutting others down. I’m beginning to think Strike Four has no real opinions either way. She just want to contradict anything that’s stated. Did I guess right that you’re from NY? You win, lady.
Perhaps there should be a “designated runner” for catchers since everybody knows they can’t run fer shinola.. Is that not the same argument dh’ers are making?
What if it was kind of like the NFL does with challenges? Each team has a select number of options to pinch hit for a pitcher per game without taking him out, but most likely a starter will have to bat at least once or twice per game? The pinch hitter could then still be available off the bench for the rest of game?
inter-league record? 14-1 al. end of discussion!
I’m sorry, but seeing pitchers hit is incredibly boring. How is seeing guys strike out a higher rate than guys like Adam Dunn, Mark Reynolds and Aaron Judge fun? I don’t get it. Also, so-called “good hitting” pitchers suck at hitting. Come at me, National League “purists”.
Here’s one. Centers in basketball are often terrible at ball handling. Should we change the rules to allow them to not have to dribble?
A lot of quarterbacks are terrible at running. Should we change the rules to allow the oline to hold so qbs can run more effectively?
I’m not trying to be snarky or anything, but I’m curious as to DH supporters thoughts on other rule changes to hide players’ limitations
You keep moving the goalposts: centers are nowhere near as universally bad at dribbling as pitchers are at hitting and MANY QB’s are awesome at running, so that’s not even true.
You aren’t even posting facts, what a pathetic hill to die on. Pitchers suck at hitting and make NL baseball boring and lesser game to AL because of it. This is fact whether you like it or not. NL baseball is still ok, but could be improved dramatically by adding a DH.
The NL needs the DH because watching pitchers hit is boring, like watching Mark Reynolds (not a pitcher), Adam Dunn (not a pitcher), and Aaron Judge (not a pitcher).
Yep, it’s so boring watching pitchers hit like Adam Dunn, so let’s add more job openings for the Adam Dunns of the world.
I hear solar flares can interfere with one’s ability to make a coherent argument.
Baseball 2019 who’s excited? I guess I am, I guess.
Change is a good thing, when it improves the pace, and excitement of the game.
I don’t get the premise that offense is inherently more exciting.
then go watch soccer and get out of this thread
The only league in the world with no DH is the National League it’s time to stop being sentimemtal about the pitcher hitting , I mean who want to see Yu Darvish natting with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second?
“who want see Yu Darvish natting with the bases loaded and two outs”
Typos aside, the opposing team and the opposing team’s fans wants to see that.
They talk about the NL no-DH as if millions of people snort in disgust and quit being fans of baseball every time a pitcher comes to bat.
I’m not a supporter of DHing the NL, but I’m not militant about it. I just don’t see a compelling reason to change it.
Why I think the DH is a good move. Sending a pitcher to the plate has many negatives. Injuries from getting hit by the pitch. From over swinging, and countless ways to be injured on the base paths. All this risk for a hitter, that has perhaps a 1 in 10 chance of getting on base.
Is there a list of the plague of horrific injuries suffered by pitchers in the NL?
It’s the things you don’t hear about. Like hitting the bag badly. Then favoring his leg. Injuring his arm from a change in throwing motion. Need an example of the dangers in the batters box? Ask a Red Sox fan about Tony C!
No one in 2019 knows how to bunt, but dumb managers keep making them and causing injuries.
Besides the injury risk, it’s so boring watching a pitcher throw the bat at a ball.
Face it, MLB doesn’t get it.
Boring, slow baseball will continue.
Please move to a subscription model ASAP to address these nonsense comment threads.
I’ve heard top ranked baseball people state that fans don’t know baseball. Then I watch these top ranked baseball people make one stupid move after another.
This nonsense of MLB always whining about changes causing “significant economic issues” REALLY needs to end. Teams, even the really bad ones, are earning many multiple tens of millions of dollars in profit each year.
A decade or more ago, the Pirates were easily the worst franchise in the game, before this new stadium was built. The team lost more than a hundred games and attendance was low. The owners bellowed about losing money every year. Somehow, I don’t recall how, the players got a look at the financial books. Turned out the franchise turned a $17 million PROFIT after taxes and expenses. Ever since then, teams don’t moan about losing money because no one believes it.
If adding a 26th player to the major league roster—destined to earn the minimum of $550K—causes hardship for an owner, SELL THE DAMN TEAM to someone who can afford it.
If you consistently spend less to field a team than do big time college football teams—I mean you, Devil Rays—SELL THE DAMN TEAM or relocate somewhere else that will support a team. But no, even with a $60 mill team payroll the owner of that Mickey Mouse operation makes a very, very, very nice profit every year. Otherwise, he’d sell his glorified minor league team, a team that wins strictly by accident—like the Triple A’s.
So let’s lose the nonsense about “economic issues” and at the very least, come up with a better excuse as to WHY they don’t want to spend any more money. It’s been 25 years since the disastrous play stoppage of 1994. With each passing day, it seems both sides have forgotten the price paid, money and fans lost as a result. So much so that MLB felt the need to turn its back while more than a hundred players (104 as per the Mitchell Report) shot steroids so as to increase interest in the game and win back some fans. Heaven help us all if greed on BOTH sides forces another attempt at killing the goose laying all those golden eggs.
17 million owner profit isn’t much, top tier free agents are in the 30 million range. That being said, owners can build bigger markets by adding exciting players.
Nothing more exciting than the stands & the dugout, and the bullpen going crazy. That after an AL pitcher gets his first ML hit, 6-8 years into his career.