# The Designated Hitter: Abomination in the eyes of God? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 31, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247 "2012-01-31T00:57:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/101 "2012-02-01T18:28:24Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Look up Rick Wise’s stats (70’s pitcher with cardinals and phils, I think). Ok. Rick Wise career BA = .195. Avg. HRs over 162 game season = 5. > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > For the Pirates, Jim Bibby and Don Robinson were actually used as pinch hitters in games, and with position players on the bench. These guys could hit and hit for power. Bibby: BA = .148, Avg. HRs over 162 games = 2 Robinson: BA = .231, Avg. HRs over 162 games = 4 Ok, Robinson was a half-ways respectable hitter, but none of these guys really justifies the argument that pitchers deserve to hit because they once had skills. I actually don’t mind that the NL keeps their pitchers in the batting lineup. For one thing, it puts them at a (minor) disadvantage in the World Series. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/102 "2012-02-01T18:31:01Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > For one thing, it puts them at a (minor) disadvantage in the World Series. You think so? I guess it does for NL teams that don’t have a legitimate player to use as a DH. But every now and then you get an AL manager that can’t seem to figure out how to manage around the pitcher’s spot (_cough_ Ron Washington _cough_). I agree that either way it’s a minor concern. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/103 "2012-02-01T18:34:22Z")
Are any of you anti-DH folks younger than the DH rule? IMO, anti-DHers (of which I am not) believe DH baseball isn’t “real baseball” and are old enough to remember pre-DH. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/104 "2012-02-01T18:37:21Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Are any of you anti-DH folks younger than the DH rule? IMO, anti-DHers (of which I am not) believe DH baseball isn’t “real baseball” and are old enough to remember pre-DH. I am younger than the DH rule and prefer NL ball, if that’s what you are asking. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/105 "2012-02-01T18:38:11Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > You think so? I guess it does for NL teams that don’t have a legitimate player to use as a DH. But every now and then you get an AL manager that can’t seem to figure out how to manage around the pitcher’s spot (_cough_ Ron Washington _cough_). > > I agree that either way it’s a minor concern. Yeah, my team is the Red Sox, so I’d rather not be able to play David Ortiz an entire game, but have his bat available for pinch hitting in the late innings on the road than have to put my 9th best legitimate hitter in the lineup on the road. But yes, some AL managers completely foul it up when it comes to managing the pitcher’s spot in the lineup. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/106 "2012-02-01T18:45:43Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Actually there have been several opinions stated in this thread on how baseball is better with a DH. You don’t agree with them, that’s nice, National League for you. > Everyone that does agree, that’s nice, American League for them. The anti DH camp though does seem to be a lot more of the “You’re wrong because I said so, lalalala i can’t hear you” sort We just argue this point with religious fervor. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Yeah, my team is the Red Sox, so I’d rather not be able to play David Ortiz an entire game, but have his bat available for pinch hitting in the late innings on the road than have to put my 9th best legitimate hitter in the lineup on the road. But yes, some AL managers completely foul it up when it comes to managing the pitcher’s spot in the lineup. I have no problem with a rule allowing Papi to bat against the Yankees at any time. ETA: I have no problem with hitting Yankees with the bat at any time either. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/107 "2012-02-01T19:32:04Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Are any of you anti-DH folks younger than the DH rule? IMO, anti-DHers (of which I am not) believe DH baseball isn’t “real baseball” and are old enough to remember pre-DH. Not only am I younger than the DH rule (born in 1978), but I grew up with an AL team (California/Anaheim Angels) as my favorite. I grew up on DH baseball, but when I moved for college, I started following the Giants and I’ve come to find the NL style of ball wildly more appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/108 "2012-02-01T19:56:00Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You may be a pitcher, but you still need to be able to hit. > > Discuss, but don’t disagree with me because the DH is really that bad. 😉 Gotta agree. The DH rule reduced the American League to not much better than Little League. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/109 "2012-02-01T20:00:08Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I am younger than the DH rule and prefer NL ball, if that’s what you are asking. Yup, that’s my question. **Jas** -you live in an NL city? (I live near Boston) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/110 "2012-02-01T20:00:24Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Gotta agree. The DH rule reduced the American League to not much better than Little League. Considering the way the AL has dominated MLB, I really don’t think NL fans want to argue that the AL is Little League. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/111 "2012-02-01T21:30:57Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Yup, that’s my question. **Jas** -you live in an NL city? (I live near Boston) Home of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. 🙂 Although I grew up in KC and lived in Boston for awhile, so I’ve watched both flavors. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > Considering the way the AL has dominated MLB, I really don’t think NL fans want to argue that the AL is Little League. Say what? Since the DH rule (1973) the AL has won 21 titles, the NL 17 (including 3 of the last 4). That’s not much domination. Countdown to inter-league play records in 3…2…1… ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/112 "2012-02-01T21:41:50Z")
I doubt anyone would seriously argue that the NL is currently stronger than the AL. However, the relative strengths of the leagues have very little to do with the presence or absence of a designated hitter. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/113 "2012-02-01T21:43:43Z")
Well, that NL has the WS Champs and you can’t take that away from me! (Although you can, apparently, take away the Hall of Fame first-baseman…). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/114 "2012-02-01T21:49:52Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > I doubt anyone would seriously argue that the NL is currently stronger than the AL. However, the relative strengths of the leagues have very little to do with the presence or absence of a designated hitter. More to do with payrolls for most of the time after the split. But the AL does attract the veteran pitchers, who are often the most effective. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/115 "2012-02-02T00:01:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We just argue this point with religious fervor. It’s baseball. It’s better than religion. For instance, there’s hot dogs and beer. Lots of beer. Not just the half-shot of wine you get on Sunday. However, my church serves port, not muscatel. Shit’s got a kick and is a nice eye opener on a Sunday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/116 "2012-02-02T14:17:21Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Countdown to inter-league play records in 3…2…1… In the 15 years of interleague play, the AL has had the winning record in 11 of them. The AL’s overall record is 1,939 - 1,773. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/117 "2012-02-02T14:56:06Z")
Fortunately, inter-league play is an even greater abomination in the eyes of God than the DH, so I can safely disregard those statistics. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/118 "2012-02-02T15:10:02Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Fortunately, inter-league play is an even greater abomination in the eyes of God than the DH, so I can safely disregard those statistics. 🙂 Is there anyone that thinks interleague play (that counts towards win/loss) is a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/119 "2012-02-02T15:17:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Is there anyone that thinks interleague play (that counts towards win/loss) is a good idea? Well, it’s going to be a permanent, and full-time, feature once the Astros move to the American League, as there’ll be an odd number of teams in both leagues, and interleague play will be necessary to keep all teams playing on a more-or-less daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247/120 "2012-02-02T15:18:49Z")
Bud Selig and the owners of MLB franchises that confuse “fans love weekend games in good weather and an occasional Mets/Yankees or Cubs/White Sox tilt” for “fans love inter-league play and flock to the ballpark even to watch Royals/Pirates”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-designated-hitter-abomination-in-the-eyes-of-god/611247.md?page=7)