Does the DH make the AL better than the NL?

Question

Here's something for all you baseball "experts" to consider. The AL has dominated the NL in recent years both in the All Star game and the World Series. The biggest reason for this, I believe, is pitching, which, as everybody knows usually wins out over good hitting, especially in a short series of five or seven games. So, here's my question: Do you think that over the years the AL has developed better pitchers because of the DH? I think that the AL pitchers are simply tougher because they've become conditioned to face nine hitters day in and day out whereas NL pitchers only face eight hitters in a typical ballgame. Guess you could say that NL pitchers have possibly grown a little "soft" due to the fact that they have an easier go of it in general over the course of a 162 game schedule. Let me know what you think of this philosophy. I'd be interested to know. Thanks.

C'mon, where are all you baseball people? Sleeping, or what?

Answer 1

Yeah I think it makes it harder for the AL pitchers to get though an inning. Who would you rather face Ortiz or Clemens when it come to batting. I think you might be right cause the AL has been dominate over the years in pitching, Just ask Matt Clement who hasnt caught up to the AL STYLE in 3 years.

Answer 2

I don't think it's that pitchers in the NL are necessarily soft. There's some different strategy to the game when the pitcher bats. The decision on whether or not to pull a pitcher from the game is also partly dependent on what the score is and whether or not to send up a pinch hitter to bat in the pitcher's spot. Relievers generally don't pitch for more than an inning or two without having a pinch hitter sent up to bat for them.

Answer 3

The National League teams don't build their benches to have a ninth every day batter. They use the extra roster spot on their bullpen or a base stealer or a pinch-hit specialist.

Aside from that, I don't think there is any science as to why one league has more success than another in a certain span of years. It happens all over sports, for no recognizable reason. In the NFL the AFC lost 13 straight Superbowls to the NFC from 1985 to 1997 (Since then the AFC has won 8 of 10), the NBA was dominated by the East, then the Lakers came in and the west dominated, then the Bulls came in and the East dominated, then the West dominated.... It just happens.

Answer 4

I think the competition in the AL is much more fierce and better because the AL has much more high priced payroll getting most of the best players in the MLB. Look at the payroll in the AL compared to the payroll in the NL.

1171.499672/14 = 83.678548 average AL Payroll (in millions)

1105.001314/16 = 69.062582125 average NL Payroll (in millions)

So the AL gets more talent and in turn makes it a better league than the NL. I dont think the DH has anything to do with it. The AL has better hitters and pitchers than the NL because of more money.

Answer 5

The DH is a comic book tale. I listen assorted this; i do not favor to work out the pitcher hit because all pitchers are adverse hitters and are computerized outs. i favor to work out extra offense, extra runs, and intensely last,yet no longer least, fewer low commonly used hitting pitchers at bat with RISP. So what can we get, a low batting commonly used protecting whiz batting 9th, rather. that's an progression? provide me a damage. it really is madness! have you ever or anybody else ever seen .4 runs? that's the version, in step with sport, of runs scored through the AL communities, in step with crew, averaged out over many seasons, over the NL because the DH become created. The DH concept of convalescing scoring is a scam except you extremely delight in .4 runs in step with sport. also, inter-league play should be abolished. enable's have a organic international sequence lower back.

Answer 6

I argue with the word "better." I am not sure one is better than the other. However, American League baseball with the designated hitter is much more interesting to watch. The "automatic" out in the form of the pitcher hitting makes for some strategy in the NL. But, who cares about strategy?? I want excitement, and hope the designated hitter rule is retained in the American League.

That is as I see it. Hope you agree.

Answer 7

Yes, the DH is better because pitchers already do enough, and it gives another player a chance to play, however, DH's aren't really considered for the Hall of Fame. People think they should be, but they aren't. Point in case: Edgar Martinez.

Answer 8

I think the A.L. is better to watch, but now always better. Say you go to a N.L. ballpark. Somehow, you are probably going to want your D.H. in the line up, which takes out one of your normal starters. Then, you have to have a pitcher hit, in which they may not be very good out. A.L. is better to watch, because of the constant lineup of batters, but the N.L. is better because the pitchers bat.

Answer 9

al is kicking the nl's butt this year