OT: Will the NL adopt the DH soon?

[vintagewhitesox]

I hope this happens. At least we can all stop pretending to care about the double switch.

[barrysloate]

When the DH first appeared in 1973, the leagues were separate, so while it was odd for each league to have different rules, it at least didn't cause any problems. Now that we have interleague play, the rules are determined by who is the home team. That's ridiculous.

Either have the DH in both leagues, or get rid of it entirely. Doesn't matter to me which one they utimately choose, but having separate rules makes no sense.

And I agree completely about neutralizing the defensive shifts. If a batter keeps hitting into the shift, he is going to see it for the rest of his career. And his production will be greatly diminished. But if he learns to slap the ball the other way and puts together a few 4 for 5 games, watch how quickly they will end. It seems to me that batters who have seen a shift in the past should be taking a little extra batting practice in spring training to learn how to hit to the opposite field.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

And I agree completely about neutralizing the defensive shifts. If a batter keeps hitting into the shift, he is going to see it for the rest of his career. And his production will be greatly diminished. But if he learns to slap the ball the other way and puts together a few 4 for 5 games, watch how quickly they will end. It seems to me that batters who have seen a shift in the past should be taking a little extra batting practice in spring training to learn how to hit to the opposite field.

It is embarrassing that almost no one tries to beat the shift. My biggest complaint isn't about delays per se, but the lack of any action. Strikeouts are at an all-time high, and stolen bases are nearly forgotten. Get back to basics, and the game would be fine.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

It is embarrassing that almost no one tries to beat the shift. My biggest complaint isn't about delays per se, but the lack of any action. Strikeouts are at an all-time high, and stolen bases are nearly forgotten. Get back to basics, and the game would be fine.

Absolutely. How many times have you seen a lefthanded hitter line a ball into right field, which is normally a single, only to see the second basemen who is playing in short rightfield throw him out as if it were an infield groundout. Yet if the batter took a simple check swing and tapped the ball toward leftfield, he could trot to first base with a single. If I can figure that out, why can't the team figure it out?

Every team in every sport spends countless hours trying to come up with counters to their opponents offensive and defensive switches, yet baseball hasn't figured how to counter the defensive shift. And it isn't even complicated. I find the whole thing baffling.

[Bill77]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

When the DH first appeared in 1973, the leagues were separate, so while it was odd for each league to have different rules, it at least didn't cause any problems. Now that we have interleague play, the rules are determined by who is the home team. That's ridiculous.

Either have the DH in both leagues, or get rid of it entirely. Doesn't matter to me which one they utimately choose, but having separate rules makes no sense.

I say keep the DH the way it is and reduce interleague play back down to the All-Star game and the World Series.

[insidethewrapper]

If both leagues continue to play each other throughout the season then one rule needs to be in place. My vote is for the "Home Team" to have the option to decide before each game if the game will be played with or without the DH that day. This would increase and not decrease strategy in the game. The manager would have to review both rosters( strenghts vs rh and lh pitchers) and decide that day based on his pitcher (Rh vs LH) and the opposing pitcher if he wanted to use the DH that day or not. Many factors involved( bench, your injuries vs the oppsing team injuries etc). If playing a team with a great DH and you know he may not play if you decide not to use the DH that day then that would be a great strategy ( maybe making the opposing manager put (Pujols or Cruz ) on the bench etc. Pujols has an injury, then no DH that day and that would eliminate the opposing teams DH that day. Endless factors and possibilies . More strategy not less. Would be a lot of discussion and second guessing. Sounds fun to me.