Are there differences in rules? What about ballparks?
2007-09-21 18:30:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
The ONLY differences between the two leagues are:
1. The AL use designated hitters for their pitchers while the NL pitchers must go to bat for themselves.
2. The AL Home Plate umpire looks directly over the head of the catcher to watch the flight of the pitched ball while the NL umpire looks over the inside shoulder (closest to the batter) of the catcher.
3. I don't believe this is true anymore but it used to be that the AL Home Plate umpire wore his protective vest on the outside of his suit while the NL umpire had the vest covered by his jacket.
Other than these, all the rules pertaining to the game are identical.
2007-09-21 18:45:46 · answer #1 · answered by shaboom2k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only major difference is the DH. However, this difference is huge. This makes the managers job in the NL much harder. It also provides less scoring in the NL. Look at the top ERA guys in each league. The NL's best is almost a full run lower than the best in AL. As a matter a fact the top five in the NL this year are all lower than the top in the AL.
Most AL ballparks have some nice hitters querks, such as the Green Monster, the short porch in right at Yankee Stadium. They also tend to have an odd shaped outfield with funny corners and angles. The NL does not have as many of these things. Houston and SF are the 2 major exepctions. Nl parks tend to yeild less HR's but are also generally smaller parks. They seem to be built in locations and ways to help keep the ball in the park. Two examples are Dodger Stadium and Wrigley Field. Dodger Stadium is 330 down the lines and around 400 straight away, but the atmosphere around the stadium keeps the ball in.
2007-09-22 02:07:10 · answer #2 · answered by Burger 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
American League Vs National League
2016-11-03 01:20:24 · answer #3 · answered by andresen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are the major differences between a hamburger and a cheeseburger?
Not much, huh?
The leagues used to have distinctive identities, but thanks to Seligula's many initiatives (some good, some not), this is where we are today. Aside from the DH (which is a significant difference, yes), there's not much in the way of distinguishing characteristics remaining.
The AL does have the last three parks with artificial fields and the last two fixed-dome stadia, so those who consider themselves "purists" (whatever the hell that means; I've never seen a consistent, or even coherent, definition) can look upon the AL with the scorn and derision they so lust to exude.
2007-09-22 01:37:08 · answer #4 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only real difference in the DH batting for the pitcher's spot in the AL. Also (new this year) the team with the best record in the AL can choose to have an extra day of rest in the ALCS (championship of the AL), the NL doesn't have this option.
Since the inception of interleague play, rapid free-agent movement (since the '94 strike) and the umpires merging into one entity (prior to this there were AL-only and NL-only umpires), the game is pretty much the same.
Before all of these factors, the NL was known to have lower scoring, more agressive baserunning, more strategy to maufacture runs (hit-n-run, pinch hitters, etc.). The AL was higher scoring, more power, waiting for the big inning. Nowadays, the line between the AL and NL style of play is more blurred.
Ballparks vary, NL has hitters parks (Hou, StL, Mil, Col, Cin) and pitchers parks (SD, SF, Ari). Same the AL hitters parks (Bos, Cle, Ana, Bal) and pitchers parks (Oak, Sea, Tor). But really all parks have areas good for pitchers and hitters. Best example is houston, short left field, but huge center field.
2007-09-21 19:08:58 · answer #5 · answered by areal_diehl2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The American League allows teams to have a designated hitter in their lineup which is usually used by teams to put in a player to bat for their pitcher. In National league parks, the pitchers have to bat. All the parks in the MLB have their own little quirks. Boston has the Green Monster in left field and the Astros have the funky hill in center field. So I dont think there is anything different in the parks that is mandated by the league depending on which league you are in.
W.
2007-09-21 18:41:42 · answer #6 · answered by _ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The DH is the biggest and really only difference. Pitchers bat for themselves in the NL. The size of the benches also differ somewhat because of the DH, but the fundamental rules of the game stay the same for the most part. I don't factor in the run differential or anything like that though.
2007-09-21 20:33:51 · answer #7 · answered by baseball_is_my_life 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The american league uses a designated hitter, and the national league doesn't. The national league actually has the pitcher hit.
2016-03-13 05:19:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Al has A Dh instead of a pitcher batting (which is in the NL) the parks there are no rules. AL has better teams than the NL by far. Better pitching hitting and fielding
2007-09-22 06:18:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
AL a limited number of people are allowed on the pitching mound, I think it s 4 or 5 where in the manager
or coach comes out to talk to the pitcher, and the NL their is no limit.
2015-10-27 22:01:49 · answer #10 · answered by kenneth fitzgerald 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋