Since 1973 the American League of Major League Baseball has used a designated hitter (DH). This rule allows teams to designate a player to bat in place of the pitcher in the batting order. This way teams don’t have to worry about using a pinch-hitter. However, the National League has decided not to implement this rule. This begs the question: should the DH be allowed in baseball? Why It Shouldn’t… by Sebastian Lena The whole designated hitter rule is ridiculous. It essentially gives one player a pass for lacking quality fielding skills. When did baseball become football, where players are developed only to play either offense or defense? This is baseball: Players should be expected to be fully capable enough to both hit a baseball as well as field one. Pitchers included. Seriously, is there a bigger momentum boost for a team than when their pitcher knocks in a run or two? Secondly, the DH rule only takes away from the importance of team depth. Without a DH, teams are forced to make good use of pinch hitters late in the game. This enforces the notion that a team is only as strong as its weakest link. Why should a team be rewarded for possessing a poor bench? Every player on a team should be counted on to deliver, not only the starters. Then there’s the whole use of strategy. Managers earn their salaries from the strategic decisions they have to make all season long. Deciding when or when not to substitute a pinch hitter in for a pitcher is one of them. The wrong decision could cost a team the game. The right one? Well, I’m sure Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit walk-off HR in game 1 of the 1988 World Series can answer that one. It’s only regarded as one of the greatest moments in MLB history. Overall, the DH only handicaps the MLB. The fans pay to see the best athletes in the game who possess the versatility to play both sides of the field. Either you possess that ability, or you keep the bench warm for the real professionals. Why It Should… by Andrew Otovic I say yes. Without the DH, the American League would be exactly like the National League. At last check, the National League is wicked boring baseball and way too lame. Seriously, double switches and pitching changes every other hitter? Double switches are only fun in video games, and half the people that play video games do not even know how to properly execute one! Not to mention, has anyone watched pitchers trying to hit? Their swings are so feeble and gross looking that watching field hockey would be more interesting for the three minutes pitchers are at the plate. Now sure there are some pitchers out there that are pretty good with the stick. Mike Hampton, Carlos Zambrano, Josh Beckett, and Johan Santana come to mind. But on the other side, for pitchers who look ugly swinging, that list would take up the entire page. The history of the designated hitter goes back over 40 years to 1973. Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees (are we surprised?) was the first ever designated hitter. In his first official at bat as a DH, he faced Boston Red Sox (are we surprised?) Luis Tiant. Let’s think about this though. The DH has given players who are average to well below defensive players a chance to play. Look at David Ortiz and Edgar Martinez. Both of them would not be able to field a basketball cleanly and yet they are arguably the two best DH’s of all time. Even though most teams now a days consider the DH a power position, it is not always the case. The DH gives American League managers (and National League managers during inter-league play) the opportunity to either rest a regular who plays the field every day but wants to keep their bat in the lineup or simply invest in a full time DH who can hit over 30 home-runs. As Red Sox fans know, without David Ortiz as DH for almost this entire decade, the Sox definitely would not have won the 2004 World Series, and possibly wouldn’t have even made the playoffs. As for 2007, the Sox would not have made the World Series. Right there, how can anyone say the DH is bad for the sport? All the DH has done is given players who are putrid in the field but can hit with either a high average or power a chance to contribute. Maybe if a team is lucky, they will have both in the same person. I’ll make this my last point: The DH has extended players careers. Without the DH, great players like Frank Thomas would have had his career cut short in 1998 at age 30. Think about that, his career would have ended 10 years and 264 less home-runs early. More than HALF of his entire total would have not existed if it were not for the DH.