Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

[Scrapps]

Is the NL going the route of the DH an eventuality? I know there's been talk, off and on, about the topic.


Reason being, I am about to start my franchise. I prefer the NL in general, but would much prefer to use a DH, as opposed to hitting with my pitcher. I realize the NL brand of baseball requires more strategy and whatnot. However, sometimes, this game can lack offense, and I would like to inject some by using the DH in the National League. Thoughts?

[rjackson]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

It is your world and using a DH in the NL might help to separate reality from your own little MLB:TS digital world.

Personally, I played with an AL team 2 years ago and wanted to play with NL last year. I went to an AL team this year again so I wouldn't have to worry about managment mistakes as much (I'd get into the interface and forget to warm up pitchers, for instance) but will enjoy the intraleague games when they come. I do miss choices like whether to pitch hit for your pitcher when you might get more than another inning out of him, they have a runner in scoring position...do I pitch to the #8 hitter so the pitcher leads off next inning if successful or prevent the run now via IBB?

[Billy...a_kid]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

First thing I do when I start a Franchise or Season is turn OFF the DH. It is not simply a case of pitchers batting, it changes the structure of the entire game. Personally, I think the DH is pathetic, and I also wish this game had a "coaches slider" option, because all the pitchers do is bunt. It is not always the case. I almost never bunt, and often get base hits. "most you can expect from your pitcher..." please, I have hit 1 HR with a pitcher in my MLB The Show career.

Man, do I hate the DH.

(a team was down 7 to 0, pitcher was replaced from injury, and in his first at-bat he bunts with a runner on 1st and 1 out in the 4th inning; talk about giving away an out...this game's AI lends to having a DH, but I still won't do it...7 to 0 and instead of pinch hitting or trying for a hit, they bunt; I just don't see that happening in real life)

[eF 5ive]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

First thing I do when I start a Franchise or Season is turn OFF the DH. It is not simply a case of pitchers batting, it changes the structure of the entire game. Personally, I think the DH is pathetic, and I also wish this game had a "coaches slider" option, because all the pitchers do is bunt. It is not always the case. I almost never bunt, and often get base hits. "most you can expect from your pitcher..." please, I have hit 1 HR with a pitcher in my MLB The Show career.

Man, do I hate the DH.

(a team was down 7 to 0, pitcher was replaced from injury, and in his first at-bat he bunts with a runner on 1st and 1 out in the 4th inning; talk about giving away an out...this game's AI lends to having a DH, but I still won't do it...7 to 0 and instead of pinch hitting or trying for a hit, they bunt; I just don't see that happening in real life)

You want the pitcher to hit into a double play? I'd probably bunt too and give my lead off hitter a chance to get that runner from second home. If he just entered the game, why would they burn through the bullpen by PHing already down 7 runs?

[BigBoi23]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

You want the pitcher to hit into a double play? I'd probably bunt too and give my lead off hitter a chance to get that runner from second home. If he just entered the game, why would they burn through the bullpen by PHing already down 7 runs?

Moneyball and studies have gotten into this...a large percentage of pitchers are better off swinging away than bunting.

[NDAlum]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

I would never turn the DH off in the NL because it's totally against the history of baseball. It's really weird to use the Astros with a DH.

I don't care what studies say: pitcher up runner on 1st or 2nd and 0 outs I'm bunting every single time.

[Scrapps]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

Best guess. Five years from now. Is the NL using a DH? Or, are pitchers still hitting?

[Billy...a_kid]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

5 years from now, NO, I don't think there will be a NL DH. I honestly do think there are too many purists in baseball to ever accept the entire sport to go with the DH.

Personally, I think the DH is a travesty to the game. That is just me personally, but I really do think the ENTIRE structure of the game gets changed. If you are going to do that nonsense, then you might as well have 9 players play defense, and 9 players play offense, regardless of whether or not it is the same 9 people. Then you have more football than baseball.

What about Mark Belanger? Coudn't hit well at all, but plays SS. Should he have a DH? The entire concept is silly.

Double switches, bullpens, bunting (or hitting), pinch-hit or stay with pitcher. No question, the entire game changes from a structural standpoint. I've heard LaRussa and Torre (+ many others) talk about it being so much more fun managing in the NL than the AL.

NL is baseball, AL is mashball. Same game, though totally different.

Dude who would bunt 'everytime', I'd love to play against you. You desire to give me outs, I will take them.

[Billy...a_kid]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

You want the pitcher to hit into a double play? I'd probably bunt too and give my lead off hitter a chance to get that runner from second home. If he just entered the game, why would they burn through the bullpen by PHing already down 7 runs?

Bunting does 1 thing on the norm, prevents the double-play. So you would waste a valuable out, when you only have 17 left, and you are down 7 to 0, for the 'hope' that your leadoff hitter gets a basehit. You're still counting on a base hit, which is a 25% to 33% chance...not exactly odds in your favor (or 67% to 75% that you will get an out instead).

More power to you!

[Billy...a_kid]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

I would never turn the DH off in the NL because it's totally against the history of baseball. It's really weird to use the Astros with a DH.

I don't care what studies say: pitcher up runner on 1st or 2nd and 0 outs I'm bunting every single time.

Actually, I misread this. I would bunt here, too, because then you can score a run with an out from the runner on third.

For me, that is quite different than 1 out, runner on first, down 7 to 0, and bunting to give 2 outs. That is craziness to me.

[eF 5ive]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

Bunting does 1 thing on the norm, prevents the double-play. So you would waste a valuable out, when you only have 17 left, and you are down 7 to 0, for the 'hope' that your leadoff hitter gets a basehit. You're still counting on a base hit, which is a 25% to 33% chance...not exactly odds in your favor (or 67% to 75% that you will get an out instead).

More power to you!

Yeah, id bank on my lead off hitter getting a hit over my pitcher GIDP. You're 'hoping' your pitcher gets a hit or at the minimum doesn't GIDP. So if a base hit is a 25% chance it's even smaller with a non hitter.

Just me, bro. I know my settings aren't letting me hit a HR, let alone a gapper with a pitcher. It's possible but IMO id take a chance at hitting a gap with my 1 man.

That's the cool thing about the game. You can run your team, and I can run mine. If I hit into a DP I'm cursing knowing I could've bunted to advance the runner and possibly 'rattle' the pitcher by having a runner in scoring position.

It is what it is though!

[moth to a flame]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

Pitchers are hitting .128 this year. Give me the DH.

[RangersCruz]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

I personally like the NL better so no dh

[dbacks_Nation]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

Pitchers are hitting .128 this year. Give me the DH.

Give me strategy, or give me death.

[bcruise]

Re: Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

Travis Wood has 2 HR's this year. I'm quite all right with no DH.

The strategy of deciding to pinch-hit a pitcher or not in the late innings is one the things I love about the NL. If you want to pinch-hit, you'd better hope: 1. The hitter comes through or else you just wasted an out AND a pitcher and 2. Your bullpen can take care of business. No such decision exists in the AL - they only have to worry about #2 when making a pitching change.