AL vs NL

[calsnowskier]

Which is better? How? Why?

 

[calsnowskier]

A few arguments...

When you look at the 5 markets with 2 teams (NY, Chicago, Baltimore/DC, LA, SF), the NL team is the CLEAR dominant team in 3 markets and the AL is the CLEAR dominant team in one. I am not sure there is a dominant team between the Nats and O's.

All time, the AL wins the World Series comparison, 64 to 48. In the last 20 years, it is evenly split, 10-10.

The AL has the DH, the NL has intelligence.

 

[JohnU]

Leagues don't actually win games but the worst 5 or 6 teams last year were all in the NL, which might mean nothing other than it was time for 3 or 4 teams to rebuild at the same time. I can't evalaute front offices or farm systems.

As far as product strength, the NL at least isn't saddled with Tampa and Oakland.

Play on the field ... meh, it's a push. Players move around too much. The All-Star game is no measure of anything if you look at historical trends.

 

[$500 Million]

I don't think having the pitcher bat is "intelligent" I think it's boring as fuck.

 

[calsnowskier]

I don't think having the pitcher bat is "intelligent" I think it's boring as fuck.

It is about having a cost to a decision. You want to pinch hit for your pitcher? Great, but now he can't throw anymore. It also stays loyal to the 9 vs 9 ideal.

 

[$500 Million]

It is about having a cost to a decision. You want to pinch hit for your pitcher? Great, but now he can't throw anymore. It also stays loyal to the 9 vs 9 ideal.

It sucks, and spare me the "oh but the strategy" argument, fuck strategy. I've never once watched an AL game and thought to myself "gee, I wish there would be a double switch right now, that would be soooo strategic" I've lost count of how many times momentum has been completely destroyed in a playoff game because they walked the 8 hitter to get to the pitcher.

 

[calsnowskier]

It sucks, and spare me the "oh but the strategy" argument, fuck strategy. I've never once watched an AL game and thought to myself "gee, I wish there would be a double switch right now, that would be soooo strategic" I've lost count of how many times momentum has been completely destroyed in a playoff game because they walked the 8 hitter to get to the pitcher.

So you like the concept of just watching a HR derby. That is sad, but you are allowed.

Having to concern yourself with constructing an entire 25-man roster is more complicated and more interesting to follow. In the AL, who cares who the 5th OF or the 2nd utility infielder is. They will hardly play. In the NL, you need those to be productive roster slots.

 

[JohnU]

I don't see the DH as especially evil. It works great in minor league ball with limited rosters. That also translates to a lot of pitchers who never learn to bunt.

For the big leagues, it's more about roster construction and for a lot of mediocre teams in the NL, it means loading up with some petrified wood for relievers who end up allowing more runs than they would if it was an AL game with the DH hitting.

If the DH were abolished, I wouldn't cry. If the NL added it, I'd be OK with that.

 

[calsnowskier]

I don't see the DH as especially evil. It works great in minor league ball with limited rosters. That also translates to a lot of pitchers who never learn to bunt.

For the big leagues, it's more about roster construction and for a lot of mediocre teams in the NL, it means loading up with some petrified wood for relievers who end up allowing more runs than they would if it was an AL game with the DH hitting.

If the DH were abolished, I wouldn't cry. If the NL added it, I'd be OK with that.

The only way I would be "ok" with. The NL adopting the DH is if they link the DH to the pitcher (which would likely require expanding the rosters by 1 or 2 slots).

If you PH for the DH, you have take out your pitcher. If you remove your pitcher, you have to remove the DH as well.

While this idea still bastardizes the 9 vs 9 idea, it does compromise on not sending up a "crappy" hitter (sorry Bum, I don't mean anything by it). It does still require roster construction that emphasizes the bottom few slots that is currently missing from the AL game.

 

[JohnU]

While this idea still bastardizes the 9 vs 9 idea, it does compromise on not sending up a "crappy" hitter (sorry Bum, I don't mean anything by it). It does still require roster construction that emphasizes the bottom few slots that is currently missing from the AL game.

Not likely that MLB would modify what the DH rule does, but it's fun to discuss. If that's really the only difference in the leagues, based on the premise of the thread, then there are no other differences. Neither league is actually "better" than the other one.

 

[calsnowskier]

Not likely that MLB would modify what the DH rule does, but it's fun to discuss. If that's really the only difference in the leagues, based on the premise of the thread, then there are no other differences. Neither league is actually "better" than the other one.

There are homers, though, who scream one league over the other. I wanted to hear arguments as to why one was better than the other.

Personally, I like NL ball BECAUSE of the DH. The DH is the source of so many minute changes in the game that I tend to have a hard time getting interested in watching AL ball.

 

[JohnU]

Personally, I like NL ball BECAUSE of the DH. The DH is the source of so many minute changes in the game that I tend to have a hard time getting interested in watching AL ball.

I am an NL guy so I guess I have to prefer it. The leagues just don't do much different now because of the metrics involved, though the DH does have a big impact on how a roster is built.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

There are homers, though, who scream one league over the other. I wanted to hear arguments as to why one was better than the other.

Personally, I like NL ball BECAUSE of the DH. The DH is the source of so many minute changes in the game that I tend to have a hard time getting interested in watching AL ball.

the problem with NON DH teams is not the pitcher hitting, its that just like most AL offense, they all have holes... so when you add an automatic out to an offense that already has major holes, their offenses are just boring to watch... I have no problem with watching the cubs or the rockies hit, even with their pitchers being automatic outs... but watching bad offenses, AND then using their pitcher as a hitter, can really be painful...

 

[Gopherfan84]

My local team plays in the AL, and I'd rather they get rid of the DH.

 

[The Derski]

I don't think having the pitcher bat is "intelligent" I think it's boring as fuck.

Typical. More strategy, more thought process = less fun. You need a coloring book to keep your attention?

 

[Thruthefog]

The NL sucks ass because it is boring as fuck to watch.

 

[The Derski]

"NL is boring as fuck" fans

 

[broncosmitty]

I don't think having the pitcher bat is "intelligent" I think it's boring as fuck.

Nothing else is sports that I can think that someone does in a game, but doesn't practice.

 

[JohnU]

I only joined this thread to discuss relative strengths and weaknesses of the leagues. It appears to have degenerated into still another bash-fest on whether the NL pitchers are boring because they don't have the DH. I guess there is no "there" there on this one.

 

[$500 Million]

Typical. More strategy, more thought process = less fun. You need a coloring book to keep your attention?

I'm sorry, what?