2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball fans at odds over DH rule
Neal Day
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports
Happy Birthday Major League Baseball!
The MLB turns 132 this season, and much like anything that ages, the sport has seen many changes throughout its rich history.
Some changes seem trivial, while others completely alter the game.
One such change came about 35 years ago, and is still the subject of extensive debate even in the present day.
In 1973, the American League introduced the "designated hitter," or DH to bat in the place of the pitcher.
This turned the game on its head in two ways: First, it artificially increased scoring, making American League games higher scoring than those in the National League.
Second, older players who might not cut it in the field could prolong their careers for a few more years by focusing solely on hitting a few times a night.
Students at Drew seem to be torn on the matter.
Amanda Maybaum ('11) feels that there are pros and cons in regard to the situation.
When asked if she feels DH's should stay in the game, Maybaum responded.
"No, because it's cheating and ruins the point of the game by making it a game based more on hitting than fielding, which is untrue! I just feel badly for those players who have to quit early," she said. Maybaum is not alone in this sentiment.
On paper, the DH inflates scores in one league, leaving the other league looking inferior.
But what cannot be measured is the heartwarming feeling of seeing an older player still swinging for the fences.
So what should baseball do?
Knowing about both the good and the bad, depending on how you see either more runs or old guys still trying to play, should the MLB remove the DH entirely, add it to the National League as well or keep the rule as is?
"I'm against it because I think it's stupid," Hannah Laufer ('11) said. "If you can't field, then you shouldn't be playing baseball."
Removing the DH, as Laufer suggests, would lead to numerous American League teams having to fire their current Designated Hitters. Other teams might teach these players how to use a glove, but the value of current DH's would take a significant hit.
The MLB turns 132 this season, and much like anything that ages, the sport has seen many changes throughout its rich history.
Some changes seem trivial, while others completely alter the game.
One such change came about 35 years ago, and is still the subject of extensive debate even in the present day.
In 1973, the American League introduced the "designated hitter," or DH to bat in the place of the pitcher.
This turned the game on its head in two ways: First, it artificially increased scoring, making American League games higher scoring than those in the National League.
Second, older players who might not cut it in the field could prolong their careers for a few more years by focusing solely on hitting a few times a night.
Students at Drew seem to be torn on the matter.
Amanda Maybaum ('11) feels that there are pros and cons in regard to the situation.
When asked if she feels DH's should stay in the game, Maybaum responded.
"No, because it's cheating and ruins the point of the game by making it a game based more on hitting than fielding, which is untrue! I just feel badly for those players who have to quit early," she said. Maybaum is not alone in this sentiment.
On paper, the DH inflates scores in one league, leaving the other league looking inferior.
But what cannot be measured is the heartwarming feeling of seeing an older player still swinging for the fences.
So what should baseball do?
Knowing about both the good and the bad, depending on how you see either more runs or old guys still trying to play, should the MLB remove the DH entirely, add it to the National League as well or keep the rule as is?
"I'm against it because I think it's stupid," Hannah Laufer ('11) said. "If you can't field, then you shouldn't be playing baseball."
Removing the DH, as Laufer suggests, would lead to numerous American League teams having to fire their current Designated Hitters. Other teams might teach these players how to use a glove, but the value of current DH's would take a significant hit.
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