(Originally released in the October 25, 1991 edition of WordProven, a publication for a division at Kelly Air Force Base, as “Drop the DH Rule”. This explains the very dated references, so enjoy remembering (or learning) such things as the Houston Astros once played in the National League and employed players named Pete Harnisch and Eric Yelding.)
(Posted because the National League has adopted the designated hitter rule, 47 years after the American League did. Whether the change is permanent is to be determined.)
Tomorrow, the Braves and Twins will face off in Game Six of the World Series. In this game, Chili Davis, after being relegated to pinch hitting duty for two of the games in Atlanta, will return to the lineup for the Twins as the designated hitter. I feel Mr Davis should never have been placed on the bubble like this. Professional baseball should discontinue the designated hitter rule.
For those of you unfamiliar with baseball, here’s a brief outline of the rule. Each team places nine players in the field to play defense. When the team is batting (that is, on offense), each player in the field take a turn to hit. The designated hitter rule allows you to let one player who ISN’T fielding hit in the batting order in place of one player who IS fielding. The designated hitter could theoretically hit for any of your nine players. However, since the starting pitcher, who plays every four or five days instead of every day, is almost always the worst hitter in the field, everyone uses the designated hitter (DH for short) to hit for the pitcher. Since the DH subs for the players who can’t hit, it follows that your DH is will usually be someone who can’t field very well. The American League (and most minor leagues and colleges) allow designated hitters; the National League does not. That’s why Chili could play in Minnesota (the American League Park), but not in Atlanta (the National League Park.)
Defenders of the DH say that it adds offense and extends the careers of fine players who’ve lost a step or two in the field but can still hit. I concede the DH adds offense; the American League always averages about a run a game more than the National League. But at what price? Granted, most pitchers can’t hit, and many folks say no fan pays to see bad hitting. But those same fans lose out on a lot thanks to the DH….
1) It’s fun to watch managers work around bad hitters. Say you’re managing the Astros (it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it) and you have two out with Casey Candaele on second and Eric Yelding on third in the eighth inning of a 0-0 game. And Pete Harnisch, your pitcher, is up. Do you let him hit? If you do, he’ll probably strike out and leave the runners stranded. But Harnisch is pitching a shutout; are you sure you want to take him out of the game? What if your reliever has a bad day? (The Houston bullpen was no great shakes this year.) Besides, your best pinch hitter only has a one-in-four chance of driving in a run anyway. And Pete might get lucky and get a hit for once. (You get some great stories when the pitchers do luck out. Check out Rick Camp.)
Of course, if Harnisch is tired, it might be time to take him out of the game anyway. How do you know for sure? Dilemmas like this are part of what makes National League baseball fun, but you don’t have that kind of fun anywhere else. Because no one else requires their pitchers to hit.
2) It’s fun to watch pitchers who actually CAN hit. Of course, all rules have their exceptions. Folks like Steve Carlton, Don Robinson, and Bob Forsch are pitchers who CAN hit. These guys give National League managers a luxury that would never be noticed anywhere else. And consider the strange case of Babe Ruth. The Babe started his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, and a great one at that. Soon after he was traded to the New York Yankees, manager Miller Huggins watch him take batting practice and asked who this incredible hitter was and where had he been hiding. The coach said it was Ruth, the pitcher they’d just traded for. Huggins overruled him and said, “I want that bat in my lineup EVERY day.” Ruth moved to right field and all he did was revolutionize hitting. He immediately set a record for home runs in a season with 54 (the old record was 29, which he set himself in 1919 despite the distraction of pitching in 17 games. Ruth broke his own record in 1921 and again in 1927.) But if another Babe Ruth is pitching in the American League right now, we may never find out. American League pitchers don’t even take batting practice. Because they never hit.
3) It’s fun to watch bad fielders at least TRY to play defense. The Brooklyn Dodgers used to have a player named Babe Herman. He was one of the finest hitters in major league baseball at the time – and probably the worst fielder. One announcer used to say that Herman wore a glove in the outfield “because it was the prevailing custom (not because he could use it at all.)” Now consider the case of Sam Horn. Horn is a DH for the Orioles who’s been in the league for several years without playing in the field. (He does play first base once in a very great while.) Would he be in the big leagues if he had to field? Maybe not; he wouldn’t be the first to miss the major leagues due to a leaky glove. Maybe if he did play first every day, he could develop into a fine all-around player by improving his defense. Glenn Davis did it. Ruben Sierra in doing it. But Sam Horn may never get the chance.
4) The DH artificially extends careers and taints career achievements. I have nothing personally against folks like Dave Parker of the Blue Jays or George Brett of the Royals (of DH’s from the past like Rico Carty or Don Baylor), but I’d rather these folks played in the field if they’re going to hit. Give Cito Gaston (the Blue Jays’ manager) a choice – play Dave Parker in right field and risk him hurting you on the field with his defense or keep him on the bench to pinch hit, where he might never get in the game. Parker’s had a fine career, but if he reached any major career milestones, (say, 400 home runs) they’ll be a bit tainted because he got four or more extra years to hit without playing in the field. Same with George Brett if he gets to 3000 hits.
See how much the DH takes away from the game?
I’ve softened my stance on the DH somewhat. I’ve decided it should be kept on the high school and college level. Almost no kids at that level are going to the pros, and the DH rule gives you an excuse to use an extra player, and let one more kid enjoy the game. Besides, since the talent is thinner at that level, a coach will maximize their resources however they can. White Sox reliever Bobby Thigpen played right field for Mississippi State until he needed to pitch in relief. And look at what A&M used to do with Gary Geiger, or what UT did with Brooks Kieschnik this year. When those guys weren’t pitching, they were the designated hitter for whoever was.
In short, pitchers who can hit will hit. Those who can’t will watch while a kid who can (and might not play otherwise) does. But make the guys who get paid (minor leaguers, too) earn the money and play the entire game. Let managers manage, and let pitchers hit.
LATER THIS WEEK: PART II – THE DESIGNATED HITTER RULE (WHY I’VE GIVEN UP FIGHTING IT)
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