The National League & the DH

[TattooedEvil]

Re: The National League & the DH

the other thing the NL does is u actually need to think about how many position players u want on the bench vs relievers....u could literally roll out a 9 position player and 16 pitcher roster in the AL where if u did this in the NL you'd get worked.....alone, it takes serious guts to go into a game with 11 position players because of double switching, pinch running, pinch hitting, etc....the utility player in the NL is 10x more valuable also....ask Cubs fans about that one

[OhDaesu19]

Re: The National League & the DH

First off I do not like the DH but I have a simple solution that MLB would never incorporate and that is have the pitcher bat AND have a DH just like softball. Ten batters.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[baconbits11]

Re: The National League & the DH

That's all fine and good. My main point still stands. Manfred has no control over it. He can like it or not like it all he wants. When it comes down to it the owners and players will be making the call.

Uhh he's the commissioner, and could block the DH entering the NL if he chose. He should under "the best interest of baseball" clause. He ultimately makes the rules. He could have reinstated Pete Rose if he chose without owner/player approval. The AL owners tried to eliminate the DH in the past because of the higher salaries, the player association would have nothing of that. I'll bet the owners would like to get rid of it if they had the choice.

[Kevin82485]

Re: The National League & the DH

Uhh he's the commissioner, and could block the DH entering the NL if he chose. He should under "the best interest of baseball" clause. He ultimately makes the rules. He could have reinstated Pete Rose if he chose without owner/player approval. The AL owners tried to eliminate the DH in the past because of the higher salaries, the player association would have nothing of that. I'll bet the owners would like to get rid of it if they had the choice.

Rules changes are things that have to be negotiated between the players, owners, and league. The new slide rule is an example of something that MLB and the MLBPA had to negotiate on. It wasn't a rule that Manfred enacted on his own.

Manfred is actually likely in favor of the DH in the NL based on some of his past comments, but he really has no say in instituting it or blocking it. Team owners and the players union have to come to an agreement on it.

With this being the last year of the collective bargaining agreement in MLB, adding the DH to the NL is something that the players union is going to push for, and any change to the DH is a mandatory topic of bargaining.

I think it will happen next year. There is a decline in offense among NL teams and concern about injuries to star pitchers (Wainwright and Scherzer were injured while batting last year). There has been a turnover in attitude regarding the DH among the NL owners. Some are in favor of it, some aren't. But a lot of GMs and Execs would like to see the DH.

[letsgomets75]

Re: The National League & the DH

Manfred is actually likely in favor of the DH in the NL based on some of his past comments, but he really has no say in instituting it or blocking it. The team owners and the players union have to come to an agreement on it.

With this being the last year of the collective bargaining agreement in MLB, adding the DH to the NL is something that the players union is going to push for, and any change to the DH is a mandatory topic of bargaining.

I think it will happen next year. There is a decline in offense among NL teams and concern about injuries to star pitchers (Wainwright and Scherzer were injured while batting last year). There has been a turnover in attitude regarding the DH among the NL owners. Some are in favor of it, some aren't. But a lot of GMs and Execs would like to see the DH.

Over the last 10 years, AL teams average .2 runs per game more then NL. There may be a decline in scoring in baseball but it's both leagues not just the NL. I don't see NL owners wanting the DH at all. Basically just another player on the team making $10-$15 million instead of another bench player making $2 million. Can't see why the owners would want to have to pay more for players. Some may, but not the majority. Players want it, owners don't, so I doubt it happens any time soon.

[baconbits11]

Re: The National League & the DH

In any event, hope The Show developers always have an option to "shut the bloody thing off!"



(best would be On Off AL Only NL Only

[OhioCub]

Re: The National League & the DH

Over the last 10 years, AL teams average .2 runs per game more then NL. There may be a decline in scoring in baseball but it's both leagues not just the NL. I don't see NL owners wanting the DH at all. Basically just another player on the team making $10-$15 million instead of another bench player making $2 million. Can't see why the owners would want to have to pay more for players. Some may, but not the majority. Players want it, owners don't, so I doubt it happens any time soon.

Not to mention, it seems to me that a majority of pitchers like to hit, even if they suck at it so it may not be an overwhelming consensus among the union to get it.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[ChavezAthletics]

Re: The National League & the DH

And some need to actually get into the game.

You are way too funny. We're all playing a video game here. Let's not pretend otherwise.

[countryboy]

Re: The National League & the DH

You are way too funny. We're all playing a video game here. Let's not pretend otherwise.

What does this even mean in regards to the discussion we're having?

This discussion was in regards to whether or not the NL, in real life, would add the designated hitter like its AL counterpart. Then we started discussing whether there was strategy involved in managing NL ball clubs.

I seriously have no idea how what you just posted is relevant to the discussion taking place.

[BDrizz]

Re: The National League & the DH

I am not necessarily against the DH, but I am against differences between leagues. Either adopt the DH for both or drop it for both.

My personal opinion is that AL teams have an advantage in that they get a guy or two FAR more at bats over the course of a season than NL teams do. An occasional PH does not have the same value to a team that a true DH does.

[Bullit]

Re: The National League & the DH

Ok. The attitudes and Snarky comments stop now.

This has been a thread with good discussion and reasonable arguments so lets keep it that way.

There is enough drama in The Show forums right now, lets try to keep one thread talking baseball open.

Please

[countryboy]

Re: The National League & the DH

I love baseball, but I'm more of an National League guy vs American League. I despise the DH and wish it wasn't in the game at all. But if it stays in the AL that is fine but I really hope it doesn't find its way into the National League.

[Kevin82485]

Re: The National League & the DH

Over the last 10 years, AL teams average .2 runs per game more then NL. There may be a decline in scoring in baseball but it's both leagues not just the NL. I don't see NL owners wanting the DH at all. Basically just another player on the team making $10-$15 million instead of another bench player making $2 million. Can't see why the owners would want to have to pay more for players. Some may, but not the majority. Players want it, owners don't, so I doubt it happens any time soon.

What's funny about the lack of the DH in the NL is that by comparison, if you asked an AL player, manager, GM, or owner to get rid of their DH, they would flip their lid. There is no way they would give that up. They would get a 2nd DH before they gave up the 1st. The argument that the NL won't do it because of money doesn't really work then. If money was the reason, I would think AL teams would be clamoring to eliminate the DH so that they can save $10 mil a year. If it works for the AL why wouldn't it for the NL?

As I said, some, not all, are in favor of it. One reason is needless injuries to pitchers, but I think the following is as well and is the biggest.

I'm not saying the following as an attack toward you or anyone else, I'm just throwing it out into the open. I use to hold the opinion that there should be no DH in baseball, period. But my opinion has changed, and now I personally think in this modern era of baseball where the pitcher has become such a specialized position, I think it is silly to ask a pitcher to go out there and swing a bat.

Half of a team's roster is pitchers who can't hit a ball because they don't train for it. Yes, they hop in the batting cage every once in a while, but it's not enough to become even a mediocre hitter. Their time is better spent training on pitching. Five pitchers play every 5 days and 7 or 8 of the rest play for 1 to 4 innings each week and never get to hit. I will concede that there are a few pitchers who are great hitters or due to limitations on the bench a relief pitcher is asked to hit, however, for the other 99% of pitchers who doesn't train extensively to bat and plays once every 5 days, why would you ask them to step in the batter's box? It doesn't make sense to me. It would be like putting any of your position players in at pitcher and asking them to pitch for 6 or 7 innings for no reason. You wouldn't do that, you have a specialized player who can accurately and deceptively throw the ball with high velocity. Why would have a player specialized in pitching try to hit? Trade him out for a player specialized in hitting. It makes more sense. One guy isn't asked to play offense and the other isn't asked to play defense. Defense gets one specialized player (the pitcher) and offense gets one specialized player (the DH). Fair is fair.

Pitchers hit 25 homeruns last year, but it took about 5,500 at-bats, and they only had a batting avg of .138, an on-base % of .158, and a slugging % of .168. Last year, the DH hit over 200 HRs and by a rough look were hitting about .265/.320/.435 (I could be off a little bit, but it's pretty close, and it includes NL teams playing in interleague who don't have players who normally DH, otherwise the numbers would be better). Why put your team at this statistical disadvantage? Hits, scoring, and HRs put fans in the stands, and I don't go to the ballpark to watch my favorite pitcher strikeout every AB, I go to watch him strikeout other batters.

Football used to have 11 guys who played both offense and defense. It doesn’t now. Specialization leads to better play and better competition. That’s really the bottom line, and though some may fight it, whatever allows for improvement on the field will be the way the sport ultimately turns, and in my opinionneeds to turn.

I understand why people don't want the DH, but I think it is an antiquated point of view. It's similar to a lot of old traditions which we forget the origin to or don't really understand why we follow them like some of the odd wedding traditions, the president pardoning a turkey before Thanksgiving, Groundhog Day, or trick-or-treating. Why the hell do we sends kids to stranger's homes to ask for candy? It's kind of weird when you really think about a lot of traditions, but no one does, they just do it or go along with it.

Any way this is one way to move the game forward talent-wise and it's a way to attract interest and fans which the game needs.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: The National League & the DH

Being that I'll be firing up my franchise with an NL team shortly, I'm curious what your thoughts are, regarding the DH. I'm not sure if I should set the DH to on, considering this cannot be changed, once you begin your franchise.

You should probably leave DH off. DH in the NL is at least 4 or 5 years away.
Maybe even 10 to 15 years. But I sadly believe it's inevitable. If/when the NL does adopt the DH, I hope the Show leaves it where you can still turn it on/off/auto. It would be terrible to use the classic rosters from , say the 1980's & then not be able swing the bat with the likes of Bob Forsch, Rick Rhoden, Don Robinson, Jim Rooker, Mike Krukow & Ken Brett, as fine a hitting pitchers you could expect to find since the AL went DH. Also I tell you, those Pirate pitchers esp. could hit well.

[OhioCub]

Re: The National League & the DH

I've actually had a pretty awesome idea for the DH working in both leagues for awhile now but don't have the commish's phone # lol.

My idea is this, both leagues have a DH BUT the DH is tied together with your starting pitcher. Once you pull your starting pitcher you're also pulling your DH so for the rest of the game you either you have to allow your relief pitchers to hit or pinch hit for them.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk