A theory of the DH

[msgkings322]

OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

 

[calsnowskier]

OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

I don’t think so. There is too much player movement for that to hold any water. If it were true, wouldn't the NL hold an equal advantage when playing NL ball since, by your logic, the pitchers are adding value when they hit?

The NL game is more complex. Sure, there is inxgame management of bullpens and small ball, yadda yadda. The main reason NL ball is superior and more complex is because it places a premium on the 25th man on the roster. More pinch-hitting means more players per team per game. Players need to bring more different skills to the table. It makes specialization more complicated to achieve since one-trick-ponies are harder to make fit.

 

[broncosmitty]

Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?


I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.


No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

 

[broncosmitty]

I mean, I'll look at numbers. But not pitcher batting stats or anything.


Speaking of which, during Interleague Play, in NL venues, is there a big difference in production from the pitchers spot in the order?

 

[broncosmitty]

Scherzer has gotten better as a pitcher, while needing to bat.


Coincidence? Maybe. But he also pitches to pitchers.

 

[Stokes1931]

Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?


I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.


No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

I believe that pitchers in AA and AAA hit, but the lower leagues use the DH.

 

[SFGRTB]

OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

In most minor leagues the pitchers don't even hit. The Giants are one of the few teams that allow their players to hit, and that's just in AA and AAA.

 

[SFGRTB]

Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?


I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.


No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

Scherzer has gotten better as a pitcher, while needing to bat.


Coincidence? Maybe. But he also pitches to pitchers.

Some teams do, some don't. The Giants have their pitchers hit in AA and AAA but not the lower levels. Other NL teams don't let them hit at any level, I think.

Scherzer was the first guy that came to mind for me as well. He was also drafted and developed by an NL team and hit in the minors.

 

[broncosmitty]

I believe that pitchers in AA and AAA hit, but the lower leagues use the DH.

I never realized it's only if NL teams are facing and if they both want to do it.

 

[LHG]

In most minor leagues the pitchers don't even hit. The Giants are one of the few teams that allow their players to hit, and that's just in AA and AAA.

Funny, looking at their stats, I'd say most of the players in the Giants' farm system are not allowed to hit.

 

[calsnowskier]

Funny, looking at their stats, I'd say most of the players in the Giants' farm system are not allowed to hit.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

The DH is an abomination and should be banned. And I say this as a fan of an AL team. That's all I have to add.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

And another

 

[msgkings322]

The DH is an abomination and should be banned. And I say this as a fan of an AL team. That's all I have to add.

I like it the way it is, with 2 different league rules. You get to see both kinds of ball. Going to either all DH or no DH reduces the complexity and interest of the game. It would be like standardizing the field dimensions. What makes baseball appealing is its quirkiness.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

I like it the way it is, with 2 different league rules. You get to see both kinds of ball. Going to either all DH or no DH reduces the complexity and interest of the game. It would be like standardizing the field dimensions. What makes baseball appealing is its quirkiness.

Fair enough. I think that it will be all DH within 5 years though.

 

[calsnowskier]

Fair enough. I think that it will be all DH within 5 years though.

As much as I HATE HATE HATE the DH, that is the direction the game is going. Strategy be damned. The kids want a hr derby.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

As much as I HATE HATE HATE the DH, that is the direction the game is going. Strategy be damned. The kids want a hr derby.

Yep. Dumb as hell.