Designated Hitter Do you prefer a bases loaded double that clears the bases and involves an exciting play at home plate? Or a boring three-run home run where the base runners trot around the bases, while the defense stands around with dazed looks on their faces? Do you prefer stolen bases, squeeze plays, and trying to move the base runners to make something happen; as opposed to a team waiting for someone to hit a home run? If you answered “yes” then consider yourself a fan of “small ball.” The characteristic of a Designated Hitter is the major difference between Major League Baseball’s two leagues: The and the National League. The American League has many advantages because it uses a designated hitter. A Designated Hitter is a position player who hits for the pitcher but does not play in the field. This was an experiment started by Major League Baseball in 1973 (Wikipedia). In an effort to stop declining attendance and to boost offensive production and thus make the game more interesting for fans. This changed the game in many ways.
The overall production of the American League offensive statistics has increased. Home runs, runs batted in, and slugging percentages are all on the rise. The American League has the advantage of getting to replace the pitcher, and add a power hitter into the lineup. This increases the excitement of the game for fans. Average baseball fans can tell you that the weakest hitter on any team is the pitcher. This is because pitchers spend their practices pitching, and not hitting.
They are not relied upon to hit home runs, drive in runners in scoring position, or help the team win a game with their offense. Older players whose careers and skills are on the decline have a chance to play for an extra year or two. George Brett, Carl Yastrzemski, Paul Mo liter, Dave Winfield, Joe Carter, and Eddie Murray were all able to extend their careers as designated hitters. This affects the way players are inducted into the hall of fame.
A player with declining physical abilities in the National League will simply be put on the bench and become a substitute. While in the American League, that same player could keep getting the same number of at bats by being switched to the Designated Hitter. As a result, American League players are being inducted into the hall of fame more often because their statistics are aided by the DH rule. American League Pitchers can go deeper into games because they don’t need to be lifted for a pinch hitter.
American League pitchers can concentrate on just pitching; they don’t have to go to the plate and bat. They may be more likely to intimidate opposing batters by aggressively pitching inside and even hit batters without fear of being thrown at themselves, knowing that they personally will not have to enter the batter’s box and deal with possible retaliation from the opposing pitcher. The National League has its own advantages because of its lack of a Designated Hitter. Some National League statistics have always been higher than the American Leagues. For example, stolen bases and sacrifices have always been higher in the National League. When the pitchers in the National League do hit, their job is to advance the runners, not hit a home run.
Bunting and stolen bases are needed a lot more when your working with a pitcher in your batting order rather than an experienced hitter. National League pitchers tend to have better statistics in general, because they end up pitching to weak-hitting pitchers more often than American League pitchers do. National League managers only have to worry about the first seven batters because if the eighth batter gets up, you can walk him to get to the pitcher. On the other hand, the American League must worry about all nine batters. As is the case of former Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee who enjoyed hitting, it was part of his game. “A pitcher likes to be able to help himself out at-bat, it’s empowering” (Murrell A 1).
There are pitchers in today’s game who take as much pride in their hitting just as Lee did. Look back through the history of the game, there have been some good hitting pitchers. For instance, Warren Spahn hit over thirty home runs in his career. Also, Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale and others could hit as well. And of course, the greatest hitting pitcher of all-time, the mighty Babe Ruth. Ruth was one of the best pitchers of the 1910 s, thus proving that the use of designated hitter isn’t always needed.
So we find that the American League and the National League play two different styles of baseball. The American League is more offensive orientated while the National League plays more “small ball.” Many baseball fans have mixed opinions on the Designated Hitter rule. As a pitcher, you feel more involved in the game when you ” re hitting. A baseball fan myself, baseball is a lot more exciting when watching “small ball.” Work cited Glen Murrell. “Look Ma, No Glove.” web 16 Nov.
2003: Chin Music #6 Bryan Crosier. “Keep the Pitcher Out of the Batters Box.” web 21 Jan 2004.