DH: Not a Four-Letter Word

Dave Paisley

The DH has pretty much been the final resting place for aging veterans who can no longer cut it in the field, but that picture is changing. The move that has almost retired Frank Thomas' glove is becoming more widespread, with players making the move to DH in mid-career or sooner, instead of in their twilight years.

This makes the alleged intent of MLB owners to eliminate the DH an interesting study. The proposed compensation - adding a 26th roster spot - does nothing for the players. It adds an extra utility player barely making more than the major league minimum, and eliminates an everyday player making an average of two to three million dollars. Forgive me if I don't believe that Donald Fehr and his boys are that stupid. Of course, the owners also know this, and the rumor that this move is simply a way to bargain with the union for future interleague play is most likely true.

But on to the players. Frank Thomas, Edgar Martinez and David Justice are a fine trio of hitters who can't quite field the way a team would like, but whose bats are much too valuable to let go. Martinez and Justice have both battled injuries, but Justice could likely still play in the field a little, while Martinez has proven just a little too fragile in his infrequent starts at first or third (the latter his traditional position).

Thomas, the finest hitter of the nineties, has really been a DH in first baseman's clothing his whole career - the anti-Rey Ordonez if you will. If it weren't for his marginal defensive skills, he would easily be recognized as the best player in baseball. Unfortunately for him, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza, and to a lesser extent Barry Bonds, all play demanding defensive positions very well, and more than make up for the small offensive difference with their defense. Griffey in particular has endeared himself to the world via Nike promotions and has assumed the mantle of the most recognizable and liked player in baseball.

But back to Thomas. The White Sox DH/1B position is going to be something of a puzzle this year, as the original intent to move Thomas to DH full time was predicated on somebody like Mario Valdez stepping in at first and providing adequate offense and better defense. That didn't happen, and the signing of Wil Cordero, ostensibly to play first, doesn't seem like much of a solution. Cordero's bat is far too light to warrant playing first base. Rookie Greg Norton (a 3B in the minors) seems to be the solution this week, but he has yet to show anything with the bat. Throw in Albert Belle playing some DH and there's a messy situation brewing.

Below Thomas, Martinez and Justice are a few decent hitters - Matt Stairs, Mike Stanley and Chili Davis. Stairs is a middling fielder whose bulk just makes him look like a DH. In the past, with McGwire at first, and without any speed in the outfield, Stairs had DH written all over him. Although seen by some primarily as a platoon player, Stairs, a lefty, bashes left-handed pitching about as well as righties: his average is lower, but his slugging isn't. Stanley is in a strange position due to Carlos Delgado's injury. He has been shifted to first until Delgado comes back, and Jose Canseco was signed to fill the DH void. Who knows what the plans are when Delgado returns, as he and Stanley are the better hitters, but Canseco is the name player.

The Tampa situation is another anomaly, as McGriff was ostensibly signed to play first, with Sorrento the DH. However, I have yet to find anyone that thinks McGriff is the better first baseman, and given that they will both play almost full-time, it makes more sense to play Sorrento in the field. As it turns out, that's what Tampa is doing in the early going.

Scanning down the list, Chili Davis, Paul Molitor, Harold Baines and Joe Carter represent the traditional aging veteran contingent, while Reggie Jefferson, at 29 the youngest of this bunch, represents the ultimate career DH. He is a fielding liability, having failed at the two weakest defensive positions, first base and left field. Davis and Baines are still pretty decent hitters, while Carter is so far off his peak, he must be laughing all the way to the bank. I don't know which is worse, that the Orioles signed him at all, or that they signed him as a platoon DH. $3M for one half of a DH platoon at his level of offense is obscene.

Perhaps the only worse candidate for the DH position is Bip Roberts, who has a five year OPS of .713. For a position that is measured entirely by offense, he is a miserable choice. But then again, Detroit promises once again to be a miserable team, so maybe they deserve each other. Of course, Roberts at DH frees up Luis Gonzalez to play the outfield. Be sure not to let Buddy Bell know that scoring runs helps to win games.

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