I’m consider myself a pretty middle-of-the-road kind of guy.  There are some things about which I consider myself fairly progressive (or liberal or non-traditionalist…whatever the label): gay marriage (absolutely for) and marriage for Catholic priests (that’s a whole other blog entry), for example; and there are other issues about which I consider myself a purist: English grammar and classroom education (online education lacks the essential teacher-student interaction).  Another issue about which I consider myself a purist is baseball, particularly the designatied hitter (DH).  Phil Rogers’ column in today’s Chicago Tribune got me thinking about the DH again.  Here’s how I really feel about it: I HATE THE DH.  There it is.  I said it.  I know I’m not alone in this sentiment, but it feels really good to say that and get it out in the open.  I agree with Rogers’ assertion that both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) should adopt universal rules, much like the two conferences in both the NFL and NBA.  However, I wholeheartedly disagree his notion that NL should adopt the DH rule.  To the contrary, the AL should abolish the DH.  Here’s why:

• The DH was instituted in the early 1970’s to increase the number of runs scored per game and make the game more exciting for the casual fan.  Now, I don’t know about the rest of the baseball fans out there, but for my money, I’d much rather see a 2-1 pitcher’s duel than a 9-7 slugfest.  Don’t get me wrong: few sights are more beautiful that watching a towering home run clear the fences.  But part of what makes the home run so special is that it’s ridiculously hard to do.  And this post-steroid era, when athletes are naturally bigger, stronger, and faster than their counterparts of 35 years ago, there’s no need for the offensive boost provided by the DH.  Players are hitting homers and teams are scoring runs just fine.
• Roger’s makes a point that pitchers’ batting averages, on the whole, are pathetic.  And it’s true.  But that’s because of several reasons.  First, they only bat once every five games, so naturally they don’t get a chance to establish any kind of rhythm at the plate.  Second, pitchers are treated like such prima donnas that most of them don’t feel the need to practice batting.  Hey, fellas, here’s a something you may have forgotten: you’re a professional athlete.  Sorry if it cramps your style, but hitting and running are *GASP* are part of the game.  In fact, they essential parts of the game.  Take some BP every once in a while, talk to the hitting coach once or twice a week and perhaps your average would crack the .100 barrier.
• Baseball is a sport that requires its players to have basic athletic skills, regardless of their position.  Professional athletes who get paid millions of dollars should be required to thrown, catch, run, and hit in each game they play, regardless of their position.  That’s the essence of baseball: throwing, fielding, and hitting.  It’s not a pick-one-or-two-of-these-components type of game.  Kids in little league don’t play much (if at all) if they can’t do all of these things.  Why should it be any different at the professional level?
• Rogers’ mentions the need for an NL DH because the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano strained his hamstring running to first base during Sunday’s game and is now on the DL for a couple of weeks.  And you know what?  I’m OK with that.  Z was hustling down the line like he’s supposed to, like we’re all taught in little league.  Player’s get criticized for not running out ground balls, but when a pitcher (my God, a pitcher!!!) runs and hurts himself, people get up in arms about it.  Hank Steinbrenner, in his infinite “wisdom,” went on a simliar rant last year when one of his star pitchers strained his knee rounding third base in an interleague game.  After the game, he criticized the NL for being behind the times and old-fashioned.  Hey, Hank, hate to break it to you, but running is part of the game.
• Rogers mentions that pitchers are at risk every time they step on the field and at even more risk when they bat.  Well, aren’t all the players on the field at risk of injury?  Straining a hamstring running toward first is just as unpredictable as a blown ACL chasing down a flyball.  Should Zambrano have been given preferential treatment just because he’s a pitcher?  What about catchers?  What about outfield who risk their bodies by diving to the turf or crashing into the wall to get an out or save a run?  What if Reed Johnson had injured himself while making his amazing catch last year?  Would “outfielder proponents” be in favor of wearing pads or changing the rules to protect the outfielders from scrapes, strained muscles, broken bones?  I think not.  There are inherent risks in any sport, which is part of the reason these athletes get paid so much.
• The DH extends the careers of mediocre defensive players who have lost (or never really had) range in the field.  The way I see it, if you can’t field a position adequately, get off the roster and make way for someone who can.
• The DH also makes the game of baseball 10 vs. 10, when it’s a game of 9 vs. 9.  There are nine players on the field, so those 9 should be the ones who come up to the plate.  Simple as that.
• The DH has glorified the power game.  And while it’s exciting to see 50- and 60-homer seasons, other aspects of the game have suffered, such as the art of the stolen base, how to properly execute a (sacrifice) bunt, and situational hitting.  Balance is a good thing, and I long for the day when the five-tool player is valued like he should be.  A player who can hit for power, hit for average, steal bases, field his position well, and throw out some runners should be the centerpiece of any team.
• The DH has created two different games of baseball.  The AL is vastly different from the NL.  Each league has its own intricacies, but the way I see it, the AL is a bastardization of the game of baseball.  And of the big three sports in the United States, baseball is by far the most conservative, the one that values tradition the most, with an eye on its own history at all times.  The DH essentially scoffs at baseball history, and in effect, disrespects many of the players who played in the AL before the rule was institutued.

Come on, Bud Selig.  If you do one thing rigth in your tenure as MLB Commissioner, abolish the designated hitter.  The DH “experiment” has run its course.  Please get rid of it.