Baseball is a sport that causes many debates, which is not surprising because it’s been around for nearly 200 years. The biggest baseball debate of them all is probably the use of the designated hitter. After years of discussion over the matter, the American League finally implemented the DH in 1973 and they haven’t looked back since. Meanwhile, the National League continues to make the pitcher hit.
Many baseball fans have a strong opinion one way or the other. Typically, young fans think the designated hitter is a good idea while older, more old-school fans think the pitcher should hit. So, which side is right?
The argument against the DH is pretty simple. All nine players that play the field, including the pitcher, should bat. Also, there is more strategy involved when the pitcher is in the lineup. Managers must think more about when to make pitching changes, and double switches come into play.
For those that aren’t aware, a double switch is when you insert another player into the game along with a new pitcher, intentionally switching where the pitcher bats in the lineup. For example, if the pitcher (batting ninth in the lineup) is due up first the next inning, the manager can make a pitching change along with another defensive change so that the pitcher doesn’t come up first the next inning. Instead, the position player (left field in this example) that enters that game would bat first.
Example
Original batting order
1. CF
2. SS
3. RF
4. 1B
5. 2B
6. 3B
7. LF
8. C
9. P (due up to bat)
New batting order after double switch
1. CF
2. SS
3. RF
4. 1B
5. 2B
6. 3B
7. P
8. C
9. LF (due up to bat)
Now, the new left fielder will lead off the next inning or next half inning, and the pitcher spot (now seventh in the order in this scenario) is not due up for another eight batters. This doesn’t happen in the American League.
The argument for the DH is also simple. Almost always, the pitchers are the worst hitters on the team, so they shouldn’t bat. Those in favor of the DH argue that people want to see home runs and extra-base hits instead of pitchers getting hits about one out of five times. Pitchers basically “specialize” with what they do, and getting the ball over the plate without allowing the most talented hitters in the world smash it 400 feet is no doubt a tough job.
Personally, I like the strategy part of the game, and I believe there should be no DH in any league. For lower levels, I have no issue with it because it gives more kids the opportunity to play. But for the majors, I think all pitchers should hit.
Additionally, while pitchers have a very tough job, they might just get babied to some extent. Pitchers are not the only players that spend a lot of time on their craft, as many position players take countless fly balls and ground balls and make tons of throws around the diamond. Position players still find time to work on their all-around games, and pitchers don’t work so tirelessly that they can’t get more swings in.
Look at Max Scherzer this season. He hasn’t been a great hitter in the past, but he works at it and is hitting .310 this season. Scherzer wants to win, so he’s hitting well. Madison Bumgarner has 17 home runs in his career. A lot of the great pitchers are above average hitting pitchers because they work at it more. In a way, it’s become accepted that pitchers aren’t going to be good hitters, but things would change if more was expected of them.
I understand where those in favor of the DH are coming from, but NL games are more fun to watch than AL games in my opinion. American League games are easier to manage, and they take a lot of the strategy and fun out of the game.
Pitchers should bat
I agree let the pitchers hit.. except for the kids so that everyone can play.
There should be a DH for NL. I don’t want to see garbage hitters.
They can get better.