Do you like the DH poll

[Triumph36]

[ QUOTE ]
the DH is good for the game. Bunts are boring, home runs are exciting. period. I don't really care how "hardcore" a fan you are, but to the masses, they dont give a flying [censored] about some perfectly layed down bunt, but love to see someone smack one out of the park.

[/ QUOTE ]

the suicide squeeze is one of the most exciting plays in baseball

sacrifice bunts usually aren't exciting but bunting for a base hit can be, especially in a tight/close game.

watching 9 guys run every count to 3-2 is pretty damn boring too sometimes

[Jack of Arcades]

I'd like more balls in play, and I'd like more balance towards small guys who can run than big guys who can hit.

I like the DH on a roster construction level. It's just another advantage a good front office can exploit.

[Bremen]

[ QUOTE ]
Anti-DH crowd,

If baseball always had the DH in both leagues, would you be clamoring for its removal?

[/ QUOTE ]
Probably not since we wouldn't know anything different. Thankfully most of us grew up with different rules in the AL/NL and have been able to make our decision entirely based on what team we like :0)

[Bremen]

[ QUOTE ]
the DH is good for the game. Bunts are boring, home runs are exciting. period. I don't really care how "hardcore" a fan you are, but to the masses, they dont give a flying [censored] about some perfectly layed down bunt, but love to see someone smack one out of the park.

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple years ago I would have agreed without question. However I really believe this is changing. In Philly a couple years ago we had a team that was constructed entirely around the HR with guys like Abreu/Thome/Burrell/Bell. The fans really did not identify with the team and ticket sales dropped. This year ticket sales are back up because of guys like Victorino/Bourn. Obviously we still have HR guys in Howard/Utley but very often they're not the guys fans identify with the most.

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, getting zeros out of 3-4 spots out of your lineup which should be extremely productive is how I want my team managed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Power is the most expensive commodity. The Twins have a very small budget. They've tried to get value in other ways, and I think they've done a pretty spectacular job of it, over the last 5 years or so. I wish they could spend more to get a DH, but in terms of performance/$ its about the least effective way to spend money.

[Vyse]

[ QUOTE ]

Power is the most expensive commodity. The Twins have a very small budget. They've tried to get value in other ways, and I think they've done a pretty spectacular job of it, over the last 5 years or so. I wish they could spend more to get a DH, but in terms of performance/$ its about the least effective way to spend money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Blame has to fall on them for not developing hitters. They didn't handle Kubel very well, they don't know when to get [censored] ass bats out of the lineup and they don't know how to leverage their pitching into any hitting. A good but flawed organization.

[Lurker.]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the DH is good for the game. Bunts are boring, home runs are exciting. period. I don't really care how "hardcore" a fan you are, but to the masses, they dont give a flying [censored] about some perfectly layed down bunt, but love to see someone smack one out of the park.

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple years ago I would have agreed without question. However I really believe this is changing. In Philly a couple years ago we had a team that was constructed entirely around the HR with guys like Abreu/Thome/Burrell/Bell. The fans really did not identify with the team and ticket sales dropped. This year ticket sales are back up because of guys like Victorino/Bourn. Obviously we still have HR guys in Howard/Utley but very often they're not the guys fans identify with the most.

[/ QUOTE ]
philly is just empathetic with losers.

[andyfox]

"I hate that it creates players that strictly play on offense (DH's) and defense (pitchers). This is baseball, not football."

There have always been specialists in the game. There are pitchers who virtually never hit anyway: they're closers in the NL.

"I hate that it takes away double switches, pinch hit situations, and crucial late game decisions about pulling your pitcher."

There are many more decisions to be made with the DH during the game. When a pitcher comes up with a man on first and nobody or one out in the NL, he bunts. Period. In the AL, when the number 9 hitter comes up, bunting is still a possibility, but lot of other things can be done. The more things a hitter is capable of doing, the more strategic decisions have to be made about him by both managers.

"I hate that pitchers can throw at guys carte blanche and not have to face opposing pitchers who can throw at them."

The days of throwing at guys carte blanche are gone. This is the ESPN era, nobody can throw at guys carte blanche.

"I hate that sluggers can get lazy and out of shape, but still demand top salaries because they can swing the bat and not be a defensive liability."

Nobody can demand a salary. There have always been out-of-shape sluggers: see Babe Ruth as the prime example. But also Hack Wilson, Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Willie Stargell, Greg Luzinski, and Boog Powell come to mind.

"I hate that many little leagues have the rule, and some kids never get the opportunity to bat."

That has nothing to do with the rule. A little league manager who makes his primary goal winning the games instead of teaching the kids is to blame.

"I hate when they muck with the rules to try and generate offense because some fans get 'bored' with lower scoring games. Baseball was healthier (and better IMHO) before DH's, juiced balls and steroids."

Baseball has always "mucked" with the rules to eliminate the dominance of the pitcher. The pitcher, in fact, is called the pitcher because orginally he was supposed to "pitch" or serve the ball exactly where the batter wanted it. The distance of the mound from home plate, the height of the mound, the number of balls required for a walk, the hardness of the baseball, the length of time damaged balls were used in the game, the size of the strike zone--all these and more have been used to change the balance of power between pitchers and hitters in baseball history.

In 1968, the New York Yankees hit .214 as a team and finished over .500. Read that sentence again. Something had to be done.

"I know I am older (40+) than most here and prefer the 'pure' game, and perhaps I am in the minority, but I hate the DH. Flame away."

I'm 54.

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Power is the most expensive commodity. The Twins have a very small budget. They've tried to get value in other ways, and I think they've done a pretty spectacular job of it, over the last 5 years or so. I wish they could spend more to get a DH, but in terms of performance/$ its about the least effective way to spend money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Blame has to fall on them for not developing hitters. They didn't handle Kubel very well, they don't know when to get [censored] ass bats out of the lineup and they don't know how to leverage their pitching into any hitting. A good but flawed organization.

[/ QUOTE ]

They get no credit for Morneau, Hunter, Mauer and to a lesser extent Cuddyer?

[Pudge714]

"In 1968, the New York Yankees hit .214 as a team and finished over .500. Read that sentence again. Something had to be done. "
The league average in 1968 was .230