2020 MLB Thread

[OrangeAfroMan]

That makes me think 2 things:
1 - I don't think it would matter much, as you're effectively just saying only relievers can hit for themselves, which they almost never do already, and
2 - this sort of double-punishes a team.....if their defense (pitching) sucks, you're then downgrading their offense (pulling the DH).....wouldn't that lead to more blowouts, if teams did leave their starters in longer than they normally would?  


I don't think it changes play enough to warrant it as a rule.

[ELA]

#1 - I don't think you'd ever really see pitchers hit.  The "NL strategy" thing is only a thing late in games.  Early in the games it's basically a free out.  So you keep the late game strategy, while removing the early game pitcher hitting.

#2 - That is the one issue I can see.  However, you are talking, what, 2 ABs a game?  So you just have to start moving guys around early, as NL teams have always done when a pitcher got shelled.  I would also allow the DH to be shifted, so you could move, for example, the DH to 1B, and have the relief pitcher sub in for the 1B

[OrangeAfroMan]

But when starters have gotten shelled early in a game, that long man will routinely hit twice, as long as he's keeping them in the game.

I'm not married to the DH either way, but I'd probably just like both leagues to be the same.  I will say I really like the 3-batter minimum - values and keeps quality pitchers rostered instead of guys who can do one thing well.

[FearlessF]

just get rid of the DH

problem solved

[ELA]

just get rid of the DH

problem solved

Pitchers don't bat at any level anymore.  Watching them try it in the majors isn't fun, isn't really strategy, it's just bad baseball.

[CWSooner]

If the majors get rid of the DH, all the incentives to have it at lower levels disappear and eventually you get modern-day Don Drysdale and Bob Gibsons and Whitey Fords hitting game-winning big flies.

Adding the DH was the first of many stupid steps that MLB has taken in the last 60 years to kill its own game.

[Kris60]

Pitchers don't bat at any level anymore.  Watching them try it in the majors isn't fun, isn't really strategy, it's just bad baseball.

Get rid of the DH and they will start hitting on every level.

[FearlessF]

plenty of pitchers hit in Iowa high school baseball - many are the better hitters on the team

same with small colleges

[OrangeAfroMan]

Right, they do everything better than their teammates, which is why they get to the majors as pitchers or second basemen, etc.  


Like probably 50%+ of elite college WRs played a lot of QB and/or RB in high school because they were the best on their team at all of those positions. 


It's correct that pitchers would gradually become competent hitters, but it would take decades.

[ELA]

plenty of pitchers hit in Iowa high school baseball - many are the better hitters on the team

same with small colleges

And probably the best player on their football, basketball and track teams.

[FearlessF]

Right, they do everything better than their teammates, which is why they get to the majors as pitchers or second basemen, etc. 


Like probably 50%+ of elite college WRs played a lot of QB and/or RB in high school because they were the best on their team at all of those positions.


It's correct that pitchers would gradually become competent hitters, but it would take decades.

Baseball has time on it's side

[Hawkinole]

When is the last time the Cubs and Sox were in 1st place on Aug. 31?
Could we finally see the "Red Line World Series" between the loveable losers and the South Side Slammer Bangers?

[Cincydawg]

Marquis Grissom came up as a pitcher.  He was obviously a terrific athlete, and usually those guys pitch when younger as noted above.  He told me they moved him to CF and he worked for hours each day on fielding.  He'd play very shallow in CF and have some coach fungo balls over his head.

He's a really nice guy, lots of interesting stories, big grin.  I have yet to get picked by him, which is a thing I keep egging him about.  He claims I go too high, ha.

[MarqHusker]

When is the last time the Cubs and Sox were in 1st place on Aug. 31?
Could we finally see the "Red Line World Series" between the loveable losers and the South Side Slammer Bangers?

This did happen.  1906