[simple simon]

i think it would be great

id much rather see a really good hitter bat then a pitcher

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i think it would be great

id much rather see a really good hitter bat then a pitcher

I love the DH...but you get so much more manager's strategy with the pitcher having to bat...

[EmpireWF]

No way, if anything, the DH in the AL should be discarded. I like watching how managers have to deal with the fact that pitchers must bat. Unlike in the AL, where the only decision the manager must make during the game is taking out the pitcher.

[Lefty Noob]

I'm with Empire -- neither league should have it. No DH forces pitchers to at least try and be complete players, while allowing far more managerial strategy during the course of a game. The DH dumbs down the game too much.

[ThePundit]

The DH was put in to add offense in a low scoring era. Since offense is no longer a problem and there's no such thing as playing a game in under 3 hours - I say scrap it.

[MVB]

One look at Barry Bonds "playing" left field and the answer is obvious- YES! ( I would actually like a ten-man rotation with a DH and pitcher) People came to the game to see the pitchers pitch and hitters hit. Bring in a guy who can hit the ball, to bat ninth.

[Lefty Noob]

Come on, you don't like seeing a pitcher try and bunt a runner over? Or managers pulling a double switch? Strategy like that adds so much to baseball; other sports can't come close to comparing. And who says pitchers can't hit? There have been plenty throughout the years, from Babe Ruth to Orel Hershiser in the 1988 World Series, who actually turned out to be pretty valuable at the plate.

[MVB]

There's no Babe Ruth-like pitchers anymore....

A DH can do all those things you mentioned, and more. You don't HAVE to see a bunt EVERYTIME a pitcher bats.

The pitchers should be concentrating on pitching the game, instead of hitting.

[Lefty Noob]

But with a DH, you never get to managers sweat out the following scenario -- bottom of the 6th, your pitcher is tossing a shutout, but you've only got a 1-0 lead. Bases are loaded with 1 out and the pitcher's spot is due up. Do you pull the pitcher after just 6 innings and try to get some more runs, or do you risk having him hit into a double play and try to squeeze one or two more innings out of him? I love that kind of stuff, and while I watch AL ball, I definitely like DH-less baseball better. Guess maybe I'm in the minority.

[simple simon]

again a topic im biased on

no DH means potentially no Ortiz

that cant be good for the world

or not for my world anyway

[MVB]

Yeah, no DH would mean no Ortiz, Giambi ( for the most part), Williams, Hafner, etc...

Your scenario is very simple, keep the pitcher in if he's doing well.

[StigRoarHusby]

I say leave the DH in the AL and let the pitchers bat in the NL to please to 'purists'.

I think the 'enhanced' strategy thing with the pitchers hitting is vastly overrated, especially since so few pitchers go 9 these days anyway.

Another persuasive argument I've heard that makes sense is that so much money is tied up in players. Why should a club invest millions in an arm, only to risk unnecessary injury taking a ball in the ribs or spraining an ankle trying to run the bases?

One thing in favor of pitchers batting, however...and another compelling argument: A pitcher in the AL can throw some chin music or deck a batter without having to stand in the batter's box and experience a little retribution. One solution would be that everytime an AL batter is hit. The pitcher has to stand on the mound, choose to cover one body part with his glove, and then let the batter try and deck the pitcher by throwing the ball back as hard as he wants. Could be interesting....more fun than watching pitchers bat, anyway.