Do you like Designated Hitters?

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  • fsquid
    Banned
    • Jul 2002
    • 17635

    #16
    Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

    The DH is unAmerican. It should be banned by the Supreme Court. If you are too old to play the field, you are too old to play baseball. Get off the field.

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    • dce1228
      MVP
      • Mar 2003
      • 1016

      #17
      Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

      Originally posted by SportsmanTO
      It was also originally intended to lengthen the careers of some players who were too old to play in the field.
      I've never really heard this point made, but even if it's true is it really fair to the old timers who retired once they were incapable of playing capable defense... I mean, how many more home runs would Ruth have hit if he could have played half his teams games (i.e... by sitting half the game)...

      The DH is a sham... if fans get bored because pitchers have to hit then they should just tune in to the scoreboard and play the "which baseball hat is the baseball under", or, "which sausage link is going to win the race"... or bring a game-boy or something... take some medication for the ADD.

      personally, I love the science of the game and the DH poo-poos that science.

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      • dkgojackets
        Banned
        • Mar 2005
        • 13816

        #18
        Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

        Originally posted by SportsmanTO
        Well just to make it clear I was exaggerating to make a point.
        lol i know

        anyway I hate the DH. Its easy to rack up some batting stats if while everyone else is hustling on the field, you just chill back and spit some sunflower seeds half of every inning

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        • deeman11747
          G-M*nnnn
          • Feb 2003
          • 3194

          #19
          Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

          I think the NL requires mch more intelligence and strategy which I love... but we live in an era where "chicks dig the long ball" and the DH gives you that. Baseball was meant to be played both ways, ofense and defense.... not just offense.

          Although I must say, there's nothing better in High School than your coach giving you the day off in the field and just getting to hit for a game.

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          • The GIGGAS
            Timbers - Jags - Hokies
            • Mar 2003
            • 28474

            #20
            Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

            NL is much more exciting baseball. Death to the DH. Make Big Papi play 1st.
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            • Stu
              All Star
              • Jun 2004
              • 7924

              #21
              Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

              What is this strategy and science that everyone keeps talking about? Pitcher comes up with men on base - Pitcher bunts. Pitcher comes up with bases empty - Pitcher strikes out. It's not exactly rocket science. You guys act like it's a whole different game, but when it comes down to it the best teams in the NL are up there mashing like everyone else.

              Personally I don't see the appeal in watching people do things they're just not meant to do. That means pitchers hitting and players like Ortiz fielding.
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              • ehh
                Hall Of Fame
                • Mar 2003
                • 28962

                #22
                Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                Originally posted by camulos
                What is this strategy and science that everyone keeps talking about? Pitcher comes up with men on base - Pitcher bunts. Pitcher comes up with bases empty - Pitcher strikes out. It's not exactly rocket science. You guys act like it's a whole different game, but when it comes down to it the best teams in the NL are up there mashing like everyone else.

                Personally I don't see the appeal in watching people do things they're just not meant to do. That means pitchers hitting and players like Ortiz fielding.

                Okay, say its 2-0 in the top of the 6th inning. The Mets are losing to someone and Pedro is on the hill. Pedro is pitching great, but gave up two runs on small ball, nothing bad. You have runners on second and third with two outs and Pedro at bat.

                There's where the strategy comes in. Do you leave Pedro in and basically sacrifice the chance to get a game tying hit, or do you leave Pedro in because you're confident he'll go the 7th and 8th without giving up a run.


                I really despise the DH, it's stupid. I mean saying you don't want to watch people do things they're not meant to do is kinda dumb. You're a baseball player and an athlete, therefore you're meant to take your turns at the plate.

                Every pitcher who's in the majors used to bat a great deal throughout their career up until the MLB. Wasn't Zito I believe a cleanup hitter in college? I mean these guys are athletes and they should be forced to hit instead of having some big stiff you can't play D get a chance to bat, therefore allowing the DH to mask their defensive liabilties.

                Both Jason Giambi and Ruben Sierra wouldn't have a career right now if there was no DH, and the Sox would actually have to put some thought into playing Ortiz certain nights because of his liabities on defense.

                I forget who said it, I believe it was the Astros manager who said, "Managing in the AL is like babysitting." Hehe, certainly it isn't that easy, but I definately believe there is more strategy in the NL.
                "You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier

                "Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffet

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                • Stu
                  All Star
                  • Jun 2004
                  • 7924

                  #23
                  Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                  Originally posted by ehh
                  Okay, say its 2-0 in the top of the 6th inning. The Mets are losing to someone and Pedro is on the hill. Pedro is pitching great, but gave up two runs on small ball, nothing bad. You have runners on second and third with two outs and Pedro at bat.
                  So it's basically a decision. You don't think AL managers make the same decisions day in and day out? When to pull a pitcher, when to sub in defense, when to pinch hit, lefty/righty matchups etc. Cmon, as a Yankees fan you should be used to hearing Torre get questiong over every decision that he makes.

                  Originally posted by ehh
                  I really despise the DH, it's stupid. I mean saying you don't want to watch people do things they're not meant to do is kinda dumb. You're a baseball player and an athlete, therefore you're meant to take your turns at the plate.
                  I disagree. If hitting was something pitchers practiced on a regular basis then I'd say yes. Many of them are talented enough so they could be decent hitters with enough work. But let's be realistic, in modern baseball that's just not practical. Pitching is hard enough to get as it is. No team, AL or NL, is going to risk injury to their pitchers by having them do anything more than the minimal amount of work in the cages. You don't sign a guy like Pedro Martinez for $12 mil a year only to see him get hurt in batting practice. Instead you send him up there to strike out 3 times a game because it's better for your team in the long run.
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                  • The C
                    Banned
                    • Apr 2005
                    • 7538

                    #24
                    Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                    Originally posted by camulos
                    Instead you send him up there to strike out 3 times a game because it's better for your team in the long run.
                    Just like Adam Dunn...

                    Anyways, I like the flavor of the month during interleague play when I get to see C.C bat, or any of the Indians pitchers.

                    However, the novelty of that would wear off very quickly.

                    Although I know some people hate interleague playm, so I'll be burned at the stake for like that.

                    Comment

                    • ehh
                      Hall Of Fame
                      • Mar 2003
                      • 28962

                      #25
                      Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                      Originally posted by camulos

                      I disagree. If hitting was something pitchers practiced on a regular basis then I'd say yes. Many of them are talented enough so they could be decent hitters with enough work. But let's be realistic, in modern baseball that's just not practical. Pitching is hard enough to get as it is. No team, AL or NL, is going to risk injury to their pitchers by having them do anything more than the minimal amount of work in the cages. You don't sign a guy like Pedro Martinez for $12 mil a year only to see him get hurt in batting practice. Instead you send him up there to strike out 3 times a game because it's better for your team in the long run.

                      I totally disagree with that. They're professional athletes. It's not even the pitchers that bug me about the DH, it's that guys like Giambi and Ortiz don't have to play defense. Protect your pitchers, that's fine, just do what the NL does. Having the DH is like having Reggie Miller bomb 3's all day, then when the other team gets the ball, having him run to half court and tag in Ron Artest to play defense until their team gets the ball back. It's just stupid.
                      "You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier

                      "Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffet

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                      • Stu
                        All Star
                        • Jun 2004
                        • 7924

                        #26
                        Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                        Originally posted by ehh
                        I totally disagree with that. They're professional athletes. It's not even the pitchers that bug me about the DH, it's that guys like Giambi and Ortiz don't have to play defense. Protect your pitchers, that's fine, just do what the NL does. Having the DH is like having Reggie Miller bomb 3's all day, then when the other team gets the ball, having him run to half court and tag in Ron Artest to play defense until their team gets the ball back. It's just stupid.
                        If having the DH gives us the opportunity to watch guys like Giambi and Ortiz hit, then I can't understand why anybody would be against it. Isn't the whole point of professional sports to watch these guys do what they do better than anyone else in the world?

                        The comparison to other sports just doesn't work because it can go both ways. Having a pitcher bat is like playing Peyton Manning at MLB. They're doing something they don't do well and don't practice.

                        My problem isn't so much with having guys like Ortiz field. He is perfectly capable of it, as he showed in the WS and interleague play this year. I just don't want to see a pitcher hit. It's just plain boring. It was bad enough having to watch Mark Bellhorn or Tony Womack bat every time through the lineup.
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                        • mgoblue
                          Go Wings!
                          • Jul 2002
                          • 25477

                          #27
                          Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                          Originally posted by camulos
                          If having the DH gives us the opportunity to watch guys like Giambi and Ortiz hit, then I can't understand why anybody would be against it. Isn't the whole point of professional sports to watch these guys do what they do better than anyone else in the world?
                          i agree with this quote...i used to dislike the DH, but then i realized pitchers are useless at bat...totally useless...it's a huge sportscenter moment if a pitcher gets a hit almost
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                          • LetsGoPitt
                            Cr*m*n*lly *nd*rr*t*d
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 5673

                            #28
                            Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                            Originally posted by camulos
                            I just don't want to see a pitcher hit. It's just plain boring. It was bad enough having to watch Mark Bellhorn or Tony Womack bat every time through the lineup.
                            Well...let's just crunch the numbers from today, shall we?

                            The 16 starting pitchers for the NL today combined to hit .314

                            The 13 DHs* in the AL today combined to hit .307

                            *There should have been only 12 DHs given the number of games, BUT the Angels actually PINCH HIT for their DH! WTF? The guy is in the lineup only to hit, but in the middle of a game, you decide that maybe he's not quite up to snuff? This alone is argument against the whole idea of the DH.

                            And here are some of those great hitters at DH for the day:

                            Eric Hinske - .249
                            Phil Nevin - .251 (overall -- he's only hitting .220 with Texas)
                            Bernie Williams - .242 (sorry...he's had a great career, but all the DH rule has done is extend it too long)
                            Carl Everett - .261 (this is after a 3 for 5 night)

                            And the winner:

                            Scott Spiezio, proud owner of a .051 batting average
                            “In my lifetime, we've gone from Eisenhower to George W. Bush. We've gone from John F. Kennedy to Al Gore. If this is evolution, I believe that in twelve years, we'll be voting for plants.” - Lewis Black

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                            • Stu
                              All Star
                              • Jun 2004
                              • 7924

                              #29
                              Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                              Originally posted by LetsGoPitt
                              Well...let's just crunch the numbers from today, shall we?

                              The 16 starting pitchers for the NL today combined to hit .314

                              The 13 DHs* in the AL today combined to hit .307
                              How many days during a season do you think this would hold true? I'm sorry but you can't make an argument against the DH with one days stats.
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                              • LetsGoPitt
                                Cr*m*n*lly *nd*rr*t*d
                                • Jul 2002
                                • 5673

                                #30
                                Re: Do you like Designated Hitters?

                                Originally posted by camulos
                                How many days during a season do you think this would hold true? I'm sorry but you can't make an argument against the DH with one days stats.
                                True, but I was more trying to argue against the idea that a pitcher is an automatic out, while the DH is going to create all kinds of extra offense. Sure, some of them, like Ortiz, do. But for every Big Papi, I can show you an Al Martin (or if you want someone more contemporary, how about Emil Brown).

                                EDIT:

                                And you're right about not being able to make an argument with one day's stats. Because last night, NL pitching only hit a paltry .138

                                While the DHs in the AL hit a much more robust .188
                                Last edited by LetsGoPitt; 08-13-2005, 02:00 AM.
                                “In my lifetime, we've gone from Eisenhower to George W. Bush. We've gone from John F. Kennedy to Al Gore. If this is evolution, I believe that in twelve years, we'll be voting for plants.” - Lewis Black

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