I don't understand or like the DH position in the AL. Why don't both leagues, the American & National

Question

both either have the pitchers hit or have a DH. Why one for one but another for the other? I just don't get it. I can understand that usually the pitchers suck at hitting, ok fine, so just have a DH for both leagues. If not, just have the pitcher hit for both leagues. And don't give me an answer like, well it's tradition, it's always been that way. Well, things change, evolve. Blacks had to drink from separate water fountains 40 years ago, but things have changed. I just don't like this rule, one for one, and another for the other. Help me out here.

Answer 1

I don't think Rob D presents a very good argument. in the NFL, NHL, and NBA, there are two primary leagues (or conferences) and none of those leagues have separate rules for each conference. I also dislike the DH rule. The DH rule is currently the only thing keeping the AL and the NL from having an equal number of teams.

If there was no DH rule, then baseball would be able to move one of the extra NL teams to the AL (like colorado or arizona), and even out the divisions so that every team has an equal chance of making the playoffs. Once the leagues were even, then they would just have to schedule at least one interleague series at all times to keep all of the teams playing. Again, all of the other major sports have regular interleague/interconference games, why not baseball?

It just doesn't make sense for the NL and AL to have separate rules. you've gotta make them the same whichever way you eventually go. either add the DH rule to the NL which would ruin the game, or remove the DH rule from the AL which would take the game back to the roots, and make the pitchers bat like the game was intended.

Answer 2

wedge47, you're about as far off base as one can get.

The DH has nothing to do with the fact the NL has 16 teams and the AL 14. For nearly 16 years the AL had 14 and the NL 12. When expansion first happened, before the DH, the AL had 10 and the NL remained at 8. The scheduling is simplified if each league has an even number of teams, whether it's 12, 14, 16 or 20. Even if you make each league the same, in terms of rules, there is still a scheduling nightmare if each league has 15.

MLB understands that, even if you don't.

Answer 3

The simple answer is because neither league wishes to change the rules.

The DH rule was started by the AL in 1973 to help with teams' offensive play, and it worked. For whatever reason, those in charge of the NL prefer not to change the rules, and those in charge of the AL like the rule and don't desire to drop it.

Tradition doesn't have much to do with it since it's a relatively new rule. There's just really no compelling reason for Major League Baseball to force either league to change their rules against their will, so the rules stay the same.

I, for one, like the way it is now simply because it differentiates the leagues in a small but noticeable way. If both leagues are exactly the same, why even have two leagues? The rule is minor enough that the two leagues can play against each other without a problem, but it makes enough difference that the style of play in each League is differentiated. It makes for good baseball watching!

Answer 4

I have no intention of arguing for or against the DH rule... as an AL fan, in my mid-30's i have lived with it all my life. I do ask you to consider this example... where would the Boston Red Sox be without David Ortiz? I think still looking for that WS ring... the DH rule can extend the careers of many aging, but still slugging players like Ortiz and Giambi, or Jim Thome, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza... just to name a few.... these guys bring alot of interest to the game.
You think theres not enough good pitching to go around now? Just imagine every AL team having to add maybe two more releif pitchers to their roster so they can play the double switch.
Yes, strategy is important, too. I'm not saying the NL rules make the game any less interesting, but lets just leave things as they are now (not that we as fans really have any say in the matter... just think how many seats are filled by people who want to see Big Papi smack a game winner or Giambi hit a grand slam)

Answer 5

In the 1970's baseball was struggling for ratings and game attendence, so the American league decided to make the game more exciting. Americans love offense in sports, so they added a player who ONLY plays offense and removed the player who lacks offense. Thus the pitcher stopped hitting and the DH took over.

Answer 6

Go to a local McDonald's (or other burger dive) and decide if they should eliminate hamburgers, or cheeseburgers, from the menu. 'Cuz, y'know, it just doesn't make sense that they should sell two different things that are so alike. Consumers might get confused.

Moving on...

MLB gets to sell two very similar but slightly different products. Many businesses would love to have that sort of "problem". Just the value of the perpetual controversy (which, note, is basically whistling in the hurricane) makes the DH, as currently enacted (imbalanced), worth maintaining exactly as is.