A theory of the DH

msgkings322 · Aug 19, 2018

OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

calsnowskier · Aug 19, 2018

msgkings322 said:
OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

I don’t think so. There is too much player movement for that to hold any water. If it were true, wouldn't the NL hold an equal advantage when playing NL ball since, by your logic, the pitchers are adding value when they hit?

The NL game is more complex. Sure, there is inxgame management of bullpens and small ball, yadda yadda. The main reason NL ball is superior and more complex is because it places a premium on the 25th man on the roster. More pinch-hitting means more players per team per game. Players need to bring more different skills to the table. It makes specialization more complicated to achieve since one-trick-ponies are harder to make fit.

broncosmitty · Aug 19, 2018

Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?

I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.

No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

broncosmitty · Aug 19, 2018

I mean, I'll look at numbers. But not pitcher batting stats or anything.

Speaking of which, during Interleague Play, in NL venues, is there a big difference in production from the pitchers spot in the order?

broncosmitty · Aug 19, 2018

Scherzer has gotten better as a pitcher, while needing to bat.

Coincidence? Maybe. But he also pitches to pitchers.

Stokes1931 · Aug 19, 2018

broncosmitty said:
Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?

I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.

No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

I believe that pitchers in AA and AAA hit, but the lower leagues use the DH.

SFGRTB · Aug 19, 2018

msgkings322 said:
OK I'm a little high so bear with me. This is serious though, I know all y'all hate the DH and personally I like having both leagues with different rules in baseball. But the AL has been for the most part dominating the NL (interleague, favored in most World Series, etc)...I look at a guy like Chris Sale who can get drafted and be told just focus 100% on pitching. Does the AL, by having the DH, have a permanent STRUCTURAL advantage in that they can just focus laserlike on the pitching talent...and concurrently be able to have a guy only there to hit? Won't they by definition over time have better hitters and pitchers? Specialization is supposedly the key to all growth in human history, why wouldn't it make the teams that can specialize better?

OK that got deep but like I said, feeling mellow...but seriously is that a reasonable theory?

In most minor leagues the pitchers don't even hit. The Giants are one of the few teams that allow their players to hit, and that's just in AA and AAA.

SFGRTB · Aug 19, 2018

broncosmitty said:
Do NL pitchers ever even bat in the minors?

I ask because I've honestly never paid attention to minor league baseball aside from Tigers affiliates above Aball.

No sense in me trying to say AL ball is superior. It hasn't even been a full six years....

broncosmitty said:
Scherzer has gotten better as a pitcher, while needing to bat.

Coincidence? Maybe. But he also pitches to pitchers.

Some teams do, some don't. The Giants have their pitchers hit in AA and AAA but not the lower levels. Other NL teams don't let them hit at any level, I think.

Scherzer was the first guy that came to mind for me as well. He was also drafted and developed by an NL team and hit in the minors.

broncosmitty · Aug 19, 2018

Stokes1931 said:
I believe that pitchers in AA and AAA hit, but the lower leagues use the DH.

I never realized it's only if NL teams are facing and if they both want to do it.

LHG · Aug 19, 2018

SFGRTB said:
In most minor leagues the pitchers don't even hit. The Giants are one of the few teams that allow their players to hit, and that's just in AA and AAA.

Funny, looking at their stats, I'd say most of the players in the Giants' farm system are not allowed to hit.

calsnowskier · Aug 19, 2018

LHG said:
Funny, looking at their stats, I'd say most of the players in the Giants' farm system are not allowed to hit.

VikingFan2k2 · Aug 19, 2018

The DH is an abomination and should be banned. And I say this as a fan of an AL team. That's all I have to add.

VikingFan2k2 · Aug 19, 2018

calsnowskier said:

And another

msgkings322 · Aug 19, 2018

VikingFan2k2 said:
The DH is an abomination and should be banned. And I say this as a fan of an AL team. That's all I have to add.

I like it the way it is, with 2 different league rules. You get to see both kinds of ball. Going to either all DH or no DH reduces the complexity and interest of the game. It would be like standardizing the field dimensions. What makes baseball appealing is its quirkiness.

VikingFan2k2 · Aug 20, 2018

msgkings322 said:
I like it the way it is, with 2 different league rules. You get to see both kinds of ball. Going to either all DH or no DH reduces the complexity and interest of the game. It would be like standardizing the field dimensions. What makes baseball appealing is its quirkiness.

Fair enough. I think that it will be all DH within 5 years though.

calsnowskier · Aug 20, 2018

VikingFan2k2 said:
Fair enough. I think that it will be all DH within 5 years though.

As much as I HATE HATE HATE the DH, that is the direction the game is going. Strategy be damned. The kids want a hr derby.

VikingFan2k2 · Aug 20, 2018

calsnowskier said:
As much as I HATE HATE HATE the DH, that is the direction the game is going. Strategy be damned. The kids want a hr derby.

Yep. Dumb as hell.

A theory of the DH

msgkings322

Throbbing Member

calsnowskier

Sarcastic F-wad

broncosmitty

Banned in Europe

broncosmitty

Banned in Europe

broncosmitty

Banned in Europe

Stokes1931

Fan

SFGRTB

Superstitious Fan

SFGRTB

Superstitious Fan

broncosmitty

Banned in Europe

LHG

Former Californian. Hesitant Tennessean.

calsnowskier

Sarcastic F-wad

VikingFan2k2

Well-Known Member

VikingFan2k2

Well-Known Member

msgkings322

Throbbing Member

VikingFan2k2

Well-Known Member

calsnowskier

Sarcastic F-wad

VikingFan2k2

Well-Known Member

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