AP: MLB Work Stoppage Very Likely

[CF DolFan]

 One big change is the that DH will be put in both leagues.  This should've been done in 1973 when the AL did it.  Better late than never.

Kind of takes the manager's job down to being almost as useless as a first base coach. I get why fans would like it but I don't like it at all. I absolutely love a great chess match on the diamond.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Kind of takes the manager's job down to being almost as useless as a first base coach. I get why fans would like it but I don't like it at all. I absolutely love a great chess match on the diamond.

Because it makes no sense to have a pitcher in the batter's box swinging at pitches and looking silly while doing it.   Pitching and hitting are skills that take years to develop and there isn't enough hours in a day to hone both.  It's either one or the other.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Kind of takes the manager's job down to being almost as useless as a first base coach. I get why fans would like it but I don't like it at all. I absolutely love a great chess match on the diamond.

In the past I could agree, but we are long past the point of the pitcher knowing how to hit. They are automatic outs and it's embarassing to watch at this point. The DH isn't as "pure" as I like, but neither are automatic outs.

[CF DolFan]

In the past I could agree, but we are long past the point of the pitcher knowing how to hit. They are automatic outs and it's embarassing to watch at this point. The DH isn't as "pure" as I like, but neither are automatic outs.

So we are allowing guys who can't catch a ball to still play. The problem is teams not emphasiszing the pitchers hitting and not that pitchers can't hit. There is no reason they can't give up 4 or 5 days of golf to take batting practice. 

[ArtieChokePhin]

So we are allowing guys who can't catch a ball to still play. The problem is teams not emphasizing the pitchers hitting and not that pitchers can't hit. There is no reason they can't give up 4 or 5 days of golf to take batting practice. 

Pitchers make more money than anyone else on the team.   You aren't going to put your $30 million per year investment at risk that he may hurt himself swinging a bat (which he doesn't do on a regular basis) on a chance that he may get a hit occasionally.   Pitching is a specialty that is different from any other position on the diamond and top pitching prospects have millions invested into them even before they make it to the majors.  Owners will protect that investment every way possible.   

And don't say that DH's can't catch balls.   I've seen the DH rotate on some American League teams where they play the field.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Pitchers make more money than anyone else on the team.   You aren't going to put your $30 million per year investment at risk that he may hurt himself swinging a bat (which he doesn't do on a regular basis) on a chance that he may get a hit occasionally.   Pitching is a specialty that is different from any other position on the diamond and top pitching prospects have millions invested into them even before they make it to the majors.  Owners will protect that investment every way possible.   

And don't say that DH's can't catch balls.   I've seen the DH rotate on some American League teams where they play the field.

The money aspect is dead on. I remember around 2009 the Ynakees had Chien Meng Wang and he hurt himself running the bases and was never the same. Pitchers are too valuable to hit. Not just that, but the DH opens up another big money spot so the players want that. It's just better all around.

[ArtieChokePhin]

The money aspect is dead on. I remember around 2009 the Ynakees had Chien Meng Wang and he hurt himself running the bases and was never the same. Pitchers are too valuable to hit. Not just that, but the DH opens up another big money spot so the players want that. It's just better all around.

You're absolutely right.  It is better baseball.  And it may take a couple years for the National League to adjust but eventually their pitchers will be on equal footing just like the American League.  They will now face nine hitters every game.

[Spider-Dan]

Kind of takes the manager's job down to being almost as useless as a first base coach.

This eliminates the amazing chess matches known as "Do not swing at any pitch" and "Under no circumstances are you to attempt to run to first base" that National League managers currently employ when their pitchers come up to bat.

Call me crazy, but a world in which every batter actually tries to hit the ball seems like it might help baseball's waning popularity.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

If we are going to have one DH....why not have nine?  Baseball isn't like hockey or basketball where you seamlessly transition from offense to defense, it is like football where offense and defense is separate and distinct phases.  So have your nine best hitters - hit; and your nine best defensive players - play defense.  No doubt there are great hitters that can't field and great fielders that can't hit. 

 

[ArtieChokePhin]

If we are going to have one DH....why not have nine?  Baseball isn't like hockey or basketball where you seamlessly transition from offense to defense, it is like football where offense and defense is separate and distinct phases.  So have your nine best hitters - hit; and your nine best defensive players - play defense.  No doubt there are great hitters that can't field and great fielders that can't hit.  

Only if you're willing to allow a roster of 40 players with an expansion to 55 in late Aug/early Sep (current setup is 25/40).  Teams will need more hitting/fielding specialists and a few more pitchers as well.  

[Spider-Dan]

If we are going to have one DH....why not have nine?

The same reason we don't say, "If you're going to allow one pinch runner... why not allow infinite pinch runners?": roster sizes.

A position player plays the vast majority of his team's games; a pitcher does not.  And due to the way DH rules work, allowing a pitcher to bat in games they do and do not pitch in hurts the team (without these particular rules, there is significant potential for gamesmanship shenanigans).  It's ultimately easier to allow a team to substitute a DH for a player that won't even play back-to-back games.