OT: Will the NL adopt the DH soon?

[icollectDCsports]

When I go to a ballgame or watch one on TV, I do not want anything to do with watching a pitch clock -- or even just knowing in my mind that one is ticking. It's just so contrary to the essence of the game, in my opinion.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by icollectDCsports

When I go to a ballgame or watch one on TV, I do not want anything to do with watching a pitch clock -- or even just knowing in my mind that one is ticking. It's just so contrary to the essence of the game, in my opinion.

If you watch films of old ballgames, pitchers got the ball back from the catcher, looked in for the sign, and threw the next one. In that context, no clock was needed. But now with seemingly every pitch turned into a mini drama of waiting and waiting and waiting, I believe change is necessary.

[xplainer]

Ok, my two cents. Only mine.

I have not watched a game in two years. I do check the scores and the standings.
The game is losing me.
No breakup play a second base. No crashing into to home as the ball gets there.
It is changing and not for me.
The DH is cheap. Since Ron Bloomberg, no pitcher in the AL had to bat (regular season) after plunking a batter or pitching him tight. That is gone in the AL and apparently, in the NL soon. It also removes the sac bunt from the pitcher and a variety of things.
Changed the DL list to a Inactive List is just PC move. Ridiculous, whatever.

I guess next is pinch runner where they stand by home plate until the ball is hit, then run. Check instant replay to see if he left the circle before the ball was hit by the batter.

MLB is losing me. But that is just me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

There is little more fundamental in baseball than the expectation that a player both bats and fields. This is not football. The AL has had the DH for nearly 4 decades. I see no evidence that AL games are better than NL games. Bag it.

[frankbmd]

Pitch clocks could speed up the game.

A reduction of pitching changes could speed up the game.

Everybody would like to reduce the time it takes to play a game.

But what about the poor advertisers.

Simple, the players can imitate their NFL counterparts and feign injuries to create the requisite number of commercial breaks.

Whoops, I guess game times will not be shorter after all.

I would also like to second my own vote to eliminate the DH at all levels.

Pitchers will be better hitters if they are allowed to hit at all levels.

[KCRfan1]

If I were a GM, I do not want my pitcher swinging a bat and running the bases. I am paying him handsomely to pitch, not bat.

I don't want him risking an errant slide, or twisting an ankle hitting the base wrong, getting hit on the elbow or forearm or hand by a pitch that got away.

The risk is too great for injury. I want to protect my guy.

And Mad Bum ( regard as a good hitting pitcher ) does not help his team at the plate, nor is he a good batter. He hits less than .200 career. I don't want him to be a good batter or need for him to be a good batter. I want him working on pitching. I need for him to be an ace on the mound. Which he is. As a reminder, his arm won the 2014 WS, not his bat prowess.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

If I were a GM, I do not want my pitcher swinging a bat and running the bases. I am paying him handsomely to pitch, not bat.

I don't want him risking an errant slide, or twisting an ankle hitting the base wrong, getting hit on the elbow or forearm or hand by a pitch that got away.

The risk is too great for injury. I want to protect my guy.

And Mad Bum ( regard as a good hitting pitcher ) does not help his team at the plate, nor is he a good batter. He hits less than .200 career. I don't want him to be a good batter or need for him to be a good batter. I want him working on pitching. I need for him to be an ace on the mound. Which he is. As a reminder, his arm won the 2014 WS, not his bat prowess.

You could make the same argument about a weak hitting defensive wizard shortstop. IMO it's baseball, having to hit (and in the case of a DH, field a position) come with the territory.

[packs]

I just can't understand MLB's perspective on the speed of play. If someone doesn't like baseball, are they suddenly going to love it because the game ends 20 minutes sooner? How does that make any sense?

Conversely, if you love baseball are you really that upset you get to watch more of it? Bring back Sunday double headers. I'll watch all you've got.

If all you're thinking about is going home while you're at the ballpark, what are you doing there?

[Peter_Spaeth]

When it's to the point where you could run commercials between pitches, IMO it's too slow.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

When it's to the point where you could run commercials between pitches, IMO it's too slow.

I think that could be solved without technology. The umpires are there to manage the game. They should be free to speak to pitchers and have an impact over game play without some absurd clock.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by packs

I just can't understand MLB's perspective on the speed of play. If someone doesn't like baseball, are they suddenly going to love it because the game ends 20 minutes sooner? How does that make any sense?

Conversely, if you love baseball are you really that upset you get to watch more of it? Bring back Sunday double headers. I'll watch all you've got.

If all you're thinking about is going home while you're at the ballpark, what are you doing there?

Try cricket

[itslarry]

Originally Posted by packs

I just can't understand MLB's perspective on the speed of play. If someone doesn't like baseball, are they suddenly going to love it because the game ends 20 minutes sooner? How does that make any sense?

Conversely, if you love baseball are you really that upset you get to watch more of it? Bring back Sunday double headers. I'll watch all you've got.

If all you're thinking about is going home while you're at the ballpark, what are you doing there?

I think it has more to with ratings dropping during the later part of long games and tv broadcasters not liking that.
Diehard fans are going to watch either way, it's everyone else they want to capture. It's like the Superbowl halftime show. Most football fans have no urge to see these pop acts, but they are there to bring in the more casual observer. Serious fans will watch regardless.
That's just my take on it. I haven't bothered looking up rating numbers that specifically in a while.


In topic: I like the nl and al being different.