Wither DH?

Jason Michael Barker

With the recent round of interleague play, one of baseball's fundamental questions resurfaced: To DH or not to DH? The designated hitter has been around for 25 years, and it seems a logical time to reassess MLB's great experiment. Since Ron Blomberg first took his cuts as baseball's first DH, the "position" has become a great many things. Seattle's Edgar Martinez is the prototypical DH. He is a former position player (generally 1B, 3B, or OF) who no longer plays the field due to age and a history of injuries. He doesn't run well, but is a tremendous hitter. If not for the DH, 'Gar probably would have retired by now. Same goes for Chili Davis, Harold Baines, and Reggie Jefferson.

The American League first adopted the DH because there wasn't enough offense, and fans love offense. Considering the scores of games today, it seems rather silly, doesn't it? Besides, who wants to see a pitcher take three weak swings, anyway? We've got Ozzie Guillen for that, thank you very much.

It's time for a change.

Don't get me wrong, I used to love the DH. Still do, in some ways. As a Mariner fan, I enjoy watching Edgar hit, something which wouldn't be possible if not for the DH. What I don't enjoy is watching pitchers hit, because let's face it, they're pathetic. Sure, you'll see the occasional hit or even home run, but the typical pitcher's at-bat consists of three strikes - two swinging, one looking. When they do actually hit, it's generally a sacrifice bunt. Yawn.

On the other hand, I can see advantages to the NL's style of play as well. Managers are forced to think more often, specifically when changing pitchers, or executing the famed double-switch, which AL managers never have to deal with. Another advantage lies in confrontation - a pitcher is much less likely to bean an opposing hitter if he himself has to step into the batter's box next inning. This decreases the chances of a scene like this season's New York vs. Baltimore fracas.

What I'm asking for is consistency. Either the both leagues use the DH, or neither do. I'm tired of American League teams having to sit one of their hitters in NL parks, and I'm tired of National League teams having to look down the bench to find an "extra" hitter when playing in AL parks. Consider the following examples. If the Mariners were in the World Series (don't hold your breath), what would they do with Edgar Martinez? The choices are to sit him on the bench, or play him at 1B, which means David Segui sits. Either way, you're benching one of your best hitters. Or suppose the Braves are in the Series (hard to imagine, isn't it?), who would be their DH? Some hitter who isn't good enough to be starting everyday. Gerald Williams? Tony Graffanino? The choices aren't pretty.

These decisions aren't fair to either team. AL managers plan their starting lineups around nine hitters, not eight hitters and a pitchers. Conversely, NL skippers are used to eight hitters, a pitcher, and all the managerial intricacies that go along with them.

It's time for a uniform sport. The NFL has two conferences, and one set of rules. The NBA is the same way. It's time for Major League Baseball to either uniformly reject, or embrace, the DH for the good of all involved. Which would be better? I say get rid of the designated hitter...after Edgar Martinez retires.

Jason Michael Barker is currently putting together a baseball bloopers video, and he needs your help. If you've got footage of colliding players, baseballs to the head, or wooden bats to the groin, send 'em on over to jmb@strikethree.com. If you don't have any such footage, run right out and create some.