The DH debate

One of the biggest arguments in baseball is the use of the Designated Hitter or DH. There are talks of making it a standard in all of baseball, and many baseball fans are indecisive over on the idea of it becoming a standard in both leagues. The DH position exists only in the American League and is a spot in the batting lineup where instead of the pitcher batting up, you have a player that holds a spot in the hitting lineup with a greater hitting ability. This Positions Job is just to hit when he is up; Player never takes the field. Let’s weigh in on some of the pros and cons of the DH position.

Pros:

More offense in a game! With the DH position, there is a potential for a more exciting game. The DH is usually a power hitter and can increase the possibility of home runs, hits and ultimately runs in a game. Fans come to games to see these big moments and nothing is more exciting than a home run or a Grand Slam!

Aging players can extend their playing years: The way the game stands today, players often suffer injuries and while playing their designated positions on the field. Often these injuries are season ending or even career ending. The DH position requires less running and allows for refinement of hitting skills. Fielders can be reeled in to play DH and therefore extend their careers.
Pitchers can focus on their pitching: The pitcher position is physically demanding and takes a significant toll on the pitching arm. Traditionally pitchers strive to pitch at least into the 7th inning. In recent years this has proven challenging and on rare occasions is it the case. Arm injuries requiring surgeries i.e. Tommy John Surgery are commonplace in modern baseball and pitchers, and managers have to be extremely mindful of pitch counts.  With this in mind, it would be beneficial for a pitcher to focus on pitching and not on swinging the bat, base running, and sliding, etc. and risking further injury.

Cons:

Tradition is imperative in baseball: Since the beginning of baseball, it has been the tradition that every player bats up. Every player should have the opportunity at bat. Major League baseball players should all possess the ability to play all positions and contribute at the plate.

Less Baseball Strategy: The pitchers spot in the lineup requires using sacrificial strategies to move the runners forward. Since pitchers aren’t traditionally great hitters, rather than striking out, they make use of the bunt. Using the bunt requires sacrificing a batter to hit a baseball gently into the playing field so that that it creates an all hands on deck scenario, for the purpose of moving players over to an extra base. The batter bunts expecting to be thrown out at first base, therefore providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score. National League is known for  “small ball,” where the ball is strategically put into play within the infield testing the abilities of the defense. Watching the defensive plays is very exciting in baseball. Small ball at times can help to uncover weaknesses in the infield players, whether in their speed, throwing and fielding prowess.
Another aspect of strategy is replacing the pitcher in a critical moment where you can make defensive and offensive substitutions in the game.  Adding a Pinch Hitter at a pivotal moment of the game, with a rested player off the bench can give the appearance of having a designated hitter.  Thus allows a designated hitter for one at bat which makes it more strategic albeit it’s only for an at bat instead of several like the DH.

The excitement of watching Pitchers get big hits! A month ago Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, a 41-year-old on the heavy side and not exactly in athletic shape, hit his first career home run! It was an exciting and unforgettable moment. These types of surprising moments would not be possible if the DH were never implemented across baseball. Rumor has it that pitchers are asking MLB to hold a home run derby event specifically for pitchers so that they can showcase their hitting skills. I am sure that this will be very exciting to watch, and the fans will love it.

Overall these are my personal Pro’s, and Con’s to the DH position. I for one feel it should stay in the American League and not be implemented in the National League. I understand how pitchers batting up often ruin a baseball rally or lead into an inning ending when the when bases are loaded. Usually, the pitchers at bat lead to nothing in helping score runs, but sometimes it leads to great rallies of great baseball. Major league baseball right now has it set up in such a way that it gives fans different elements of the game to make it exciting.  Now that baseball has inter-league play (both Leagues get to play each other throughout the year), fans can get the best of both worlds of watching Pitchers hit or the Designated hitter.