Does anyone use the DH in the NL?

[rjackson]

Either ESPN or MLBN had a snippet that showed how close the NL came to having a DH as well...save for a fishing trip.

I prefer NL baseball, myself. It is hard enough to watch a game when the cameras keep going to the crowd when I'd prefer to see the defensive alignment (OF playing no doubles? Infielders guarding the lines?) or a million of other things I could bring up about broadcasts. At the least, the NL still gives me a little something to think about.

[moth to a flame]

Quote: Originally Posted by dbacks_Nation

Give me strategy, or give me death.

The strategy is exaggerated. Give me the best players on the field at all times.

[moth to a flame]

Quote: Originally Posted by Billy...a_kid

2-0 game, bottom of 5th (or maybe 6th), you are losing, your ace is pitching, so do you pinch hit for him because he cannot hit, or leave him in for the excellent pitching (it was an error and a bomb; he's throwing a 1-hitter). NON-EXISTENT in the AL, literally. Baseball vs. Mashball; I go purist every time!

That's not strategy. That's choosing the lesser of two evils. Have a crappy hitter hit, or have a lesser pitcher pitch.

[dbacks_Nation]

Quote: Originally Posted by moth to a flame

The strategy is exaggerated. Give me the best players on the field at all times.

Quote: Originally Posted by moth to a flame

That's not strategy. That's choosing the lesser of two evils. Have a crappy hitter hit, or have a lesser pitcher pitch.

Let's not beat this dead horse.

[tessl]

I use manage mode and I turn DH off for both leagues. DH baseball is boring and doesn't use the entire 25 man baseball.

[Hender3]

I keep the DH how it is. I don't like the DH at all. In my opinion, I think everyone should have to play the field to hit. Doesn't seem fair to have a guy that only hits 4 times a day.

As far as letting pitchers hit, if there is someone on with 0 outs or 1 out.. Im bunting. I wanna move that runner (or runners) over for my leadoff, 2nd, and 3rd hitter to drive in.

[cardinalbird5]

Bill James argued it was tougher to manage in the AL, because the choices aren't automatic or common sense (AKA pinch hitting when your pitcher comes up thus forcing you to choose someone else in the pen). You also see more 4-5 out saves in the AL than you do in the NL.

I don't necessarily agree with that, but it is something to consider. NL just seems more annoying to manage than anything. Most of the moves done in the NL are what most fans would do and what managers are expected to do. There isn't much variety. Every manager pretty much does the same thing with no innovation or outside the box thinking.

AL you have more flexibility, but at the same time managers have a bit more choices on how to allocate their innings among their relievers.

For the little outcome of wins/losses managers do have with their respected teams, managing the bullpen is probably the only significant tangible asset they can bring to their ball club. This goes out the window when virtually every NL manager does the same thing with their bullpen. But let's be honest....managing a baseball team is not that difficult compared to other sports like Basketball, Hockey, Football, Soccer, etc nor do managers have that much effect on if their teams win or lose. In fact, statistics have shown that no manager has actually added win value to their respective ball club. There are just managers who manage to screw it up less than other managers.

Sorry for the random rant...just read "Baseball between the numbers".

[moth to a flame]

Quote: Originally Posted by cardinalbird7

I don't necessarily agree with that, but it is something to consider. NL just seems more annoying to manage than anything. Most of the moves done in the NL are what most fans would do and what managers are expected to do. There isn't much variety. Every manager pretty much does the same thing with no innovation or outside the box thinking.

That is exactly why I said that strategy is exaggerated. Its not exactly complicated.