Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

There are still as many managerial decisions, they're just different. Pinch Hitting for a weak hitting position player or to get a platoon advantage is a much more interesting managerial choice imo than pinch hitting for a pitcher, which is a no brainer most of the time. Plus, opens up the ability to use more pinch runners and defensive replacements because you don't have to save your bench to pinch hit for the pitcher late.

Also adds another element to team building, as you have to decide how to use your DH, whether as a dedicated player, or as a revolving "offday".

Plus, going traditional rules kinda screws up Ohtani being in the NL now. Dodgers aren't going to put him in the lineup of there's no DH.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

If I go this route in ‘24 I’ll do one of two things:

A) if he’s in the base roster with OF as his primary position I’ll remove his two way player status and have him as a position player only. I’ll add first base as a secondary position.

B) if he’s listed as a primary pitcher then I’ll leave him as a two way player and then move him back to the Angels on a one year contract and go from there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LegendKillerOne]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

If I go this route in ‘24 I’ll do one of two things:

A) if he’s in the base roster with OF as his primary position I’ll remove his two way player status and have him as a position player only. I’ll add first base as a secondary position.

B) if he’s listed as a primary pitcher then I’ll leave him as a two way player and then move him back to the Angels on a one year contract and go from there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Excited to see what you wind up doing and ofc reading about it in the 2024 Franchise Discussion thread

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

For ****s and giggles, I started up a new franchise in '23 using the traditional DH rules and I have been having an absolute blast! Currently still in Spring Training, but damn did I miss playing this way previously.

I even went deep with Adam Wainwright in a ST game against the Marlins.

[soxfanbs91]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

23 was the first time I used universal DH. I agree with you, but the way rosters are constructed now, you almost have to use DH.

I also play a lot with classic rosters as well so I get my "real" baseball fix there.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

Yeah, some teams are paying an extra guy to DH, or at least rotate in and out of the DH spot with other players. That guy suddenly gets moved to the bench as on overpaid bench bat.

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

Yeah, some teams are paying an extra guy to DH, or at least rotate in and out of the DH spot with other players. That guy suddenly gets moved to the bench as on overpaid bench bat.

I went thru the rosters of NL teams prior to starting and tinkered with the roster to try to remove such players. I made Nelson Cruz a free agent and moved JD Martinez to the Red Sox.

[DirtBallNation]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

This is a really interesting topic and makes you think; like you said, takes away from the realistic decisions that have to be made in the game, which in part takes away fun from the game.

I personally enjoy the universal DH, but bringing this up makes me want to do a franchise with the old style of playing having on the AL DH on. OR take it to the next level, like someone said, turn off the DH in general. I feel like having the universal DH on, you don't need to have much for talent on bench because the likelihood of Pinch-hitting for someone is unlikely. I know from my experience, having a franchise with the Braves, my bench was made up of mostly low-end 70s or high-end 60 overall bench players who were cheap and weren't going to see the field very often (unless in simulation aspects) but I know in your case, you play all 162 so even then, that doesn't affect you very much.

I'll likely leave the universal DH on, just for realism rules perspective but definitely wouldn't mind trying out a franchise with the old rules.

[baconbits11]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I'm choosing to re-experience this style of baseball with a 1998 replay.

Sent from my SM-A546U1 using Tapatalk

[The Gamer]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

Like I said above , I go with the rules of the time of the rosters I use. About to start a 1990 season so DH in the AL only. I'd like do a season pre-DH rule like 69 to 73 era.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I still get my bench some pinch hitting oppos but what I miss about playing with no DH are the double switch moves. What I keep looking to happen with pitcher batter attributes is to eventually all be set to zero, even the bunting rating. When that happens its going to be hard to want to play with no DH. Thankfully the devs have the forsight to still give some pitchers bunting ability and a little bit of contact rating.

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I still get my bench some pinch hitting oppos but what I miss about playing with no DH are the double switch moves. What I keep looking to happen with pitcher batter attributes is to eventually all be set to zero, even the bunting rating. When that happens its going to be hard to want to play with no DH. Thankfully the devs have the forsight to still give some pitchers bunting ability and a little bit of contact rating.

I actually inquired about this very thought during a discussion and the expectation is that pitchers will continue to carry some type of batting attributes so long as the game has the option to toggle DH on/off.

[MetsFan16]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

Slightly related note to this, I am hoping they adjust the Lineup menu in your franchise based on your DH choice.

If I have universal DH turned on, I shouldn't have to set a non-DH lineup and vice versa.

More of a quality-of-life improvement I am hoping for in this year's game

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I don’t think I can go back to the current DH format. I missed the NL strategy during my franchise in ‘23.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

In real life I prefer pitchers to other players but damn if I wish they had taken their turn at bat as seriously as Ohtani does. We should never had gotten as far along with expecting pitchers to ''just'' pitch. I don't even blame management for not putting a bigger emphasis and expectations out of pitchers than they have for the last 50 years. Every pitcher before Ohtani should have had more pride in being a complete player. I wouldn't be surprised if in a hundred years after I'm gone there are 9 designated hitters and 9 defensive players. Kind of evolve the way football evolved away from two-way players. But at least I'll be dead and won't be subjected to it.

If drafting in the Show ever gets as many deep late rounds as real MLB, I think I might put more time in drafting, see if I can't find some hidden gem pitchers with already basic hitting skills. Then try to develop a whole rotation of Ohtani's, in fact a whole farm system of Ohtani's. I would have to focus more attention to my minor leagues so that my affiliates didn't automatic use a DH, but I think that has the potential to be pretty cool and interesting as well as challenging. Something for me to consider.

[countryboy]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I did some testing for anyone interested (probably no one ) in how Ohtani is used within a franchise that is using traditional DH rules as both a member of the Angels (AL) and Dodgers (NL)

With the Angels, he is used as you would expect. He's a starting pitcher that in turn DH's when he's not on the mound. Also, when the Angels were playing in a NL park, he started in RF in two of the 24ish games the Angels played in NL parks not having the DH. I don't know of how many games he was on the mound I didn't check.


With the Dodgers he was used more conservatively as you would expect. He never started a game as a position player when not on the mound. He did however DH in all the games played in AL parks where the DH was utilized, unless he was pitching.

I'm hoping against all hope that somehow, someway, he is listed as only a position player in '24's default roster base, but I don't expect that to be the case. If not, then I'm hoping against all hope there is a way to undo the two way player status (which you can do in '23) and make his primary position a fielding position. Because as the system is now, you can't designate a primary pitcher into a position player or vice versa, unless I am completely missing something.

My ultimate goal would be to make Ohtani a OF/1B and remove pitching all together.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Considering Going Back to Traditional DH Rules in '24

I did some testing for anyone interested (probably no one ) in how Ohtani is used within a franchise that is using traditional DH rules as both a member of the Angels (AL) and Dodgers (NL)

With the Angels, he is used as you would expect. He's a starting pitcher that in turn DH's when he's not on the mound. Also, when the Angels were playing in a NL park, he started in RF in two of the 24ish games the Angels played in NL parks not having the DH. I don't know of how many games he was on the mound I didn't check.


With the Dodgers he was used more conservatively as you would expect. He never started a game as a position player when not on the mound. He did however DH in all the games played in AL parks where the DH was utilized, unless he was pitching.

I'm hoping against all hope that somehow, someway, he is listed as only a position player in '24's default roster base, but I don't expect that to be the case. If not, then I'm hoping against all hope there is a way to undo the two way player status (which you can do in '23) and make his primary position a fielding position. Because as the system is now, you can't designate a primary pitcher into a position player or vice versa, unless I am completely missing something.

My ultimate goal would be to make Ohtani a OF/1B and remove pitching all together.

Ohtani is the epitome of throwing a monkey wrench into the Show. So many possibilities in how Ohtani can play out in MLB24. If Sony fixes him where he doesn't pitch for the 2024 season, what will his durability look like. Will The Show AI/CPU try to play him in the outfield and hurt him further if he throws his arm out trying to gun someone out at the plate? Going to be interesting for sure.