For years now, one of the biggest debates in Major League Baseball is if the National League should go to a designated hitter like the American League. The AL integrated the DH in 1973. People have voiced their displeasure that both leagues don’t have the same set of rules. The NL has thought about integrating the DH for the pitcher, but the owners have not gotten enough votes from their peers to change the rule.
The issue has come to the forefront this season because Adam Wainwright ended his season by tearing his Achilles and ending his season, while batting against the Milwaukee Brewers. Wainwright has since came out saying that his “fluke” injury should not be the reason the NL decides to go to a DH. Talking to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wainwright said “I could have been carrying my daughter up the stairs. So outlaw carrying your daughter up the stairs. Outlaw covering first. Outlaw fielding a bunt.” One has to agree with Wainwright on that point. It was a freak injury and could have easily happened to a position player. “It was a fluke thing and baseball needs to stay where it is.”
Max Scherzer also got hurt recently, with a sprained thumb, and voiced his opinion. When asked if he would mind the NL going to a DH Scherzer said he “wouldn’t be opposed.” This does not come as a shock, since Scherzer has spent the majority of his career in the AL. His best point, in my opinion, was that fans would rather see a DH then a pitcher in the batter’s box. “Those kids don’t want to see me hit. No one want to see a pitcher hit. No one pays money for that.” One could argue that he knew he was going to have to bat when he signed his contract. In 2014, pitchers batting average was a measly .107, while the MLB average was .251. While baseball is a game of failure, failing nine out of ten times is not something that is fun to watch.
I think that the NL should go to a DH. First of all, as Scherzer said, people don’t pay money to see a pitcher hit. Fans are more interested in seeing David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, or even Alex Rodriguez swing the bat instead of Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner, two of the better hitting pitchers in the league. Another reason I believe the NL should go to a DH is the most glaring reason, both leagues should have the same set of rules. With the daily interleague play, integrated in 2013, it would only make sense for both leagues to have the same rules. No other major sport has a different set of rules for the different leagues. By having the DH in both leagues it would only increase offensive production.
Baseball is trying to shorten the game in order to get more fans. Why wouldn’t they want more runs to score each game to attract more fans? If more runs are being scored it makes for a more interesting game for the fans. Granted there are a few who like seeing a pitcher’s duel, but more would like to see runs being scored. In the past three full seasons, the average number of runs has dropped from 701 to 659. To no surprise the AL is leading in runs scored every year, with a peak of 721 runs scored in 2012. The reason the AL is leading in runs scored has to be a direct correlation that the AL has the DH. By having the DH, AL teams are able to have another impact bat in the lineup, instead of as Scherzer put it, “a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper.”
This debate has been going on since the inception of the DH in 1973 and will continue for many years to come. Unless the player’s association talks with owners and decides it’s time for the DH to be in both leagues, I do not think it will happen. I would not be shocked to hear something like that from the MLBPA. The DH gives many players longer careers then they would an everyday position player. We have seen that firsthand with David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez. Whichever side of the spectrum you fall on, don’t be surprised to hear this debate go on for the next ten to fifteen years.
Works Cited
Bieler, Des. “Max Scherzer Says His DH Comments Were ‘taken out of Context’.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/04/28/max-scherzer-says-his-dh-comments-were-taken-out-of-context/>.
ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures,. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. <http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/batting/year/2014/split/77>.
Shaikin, Bill. “Fluke Injury Shouldn’t Lead to Designated Hitters.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. <http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-adam-wainwright-designated-hitter-20150429-story.html>.
Luke Prochaska 