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Post by hchoops on Apr 29, 2020 16:45:52 GMT -5
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Post by timholycross on Apr 29, 2020 20:43:03 GMT -5
This might be the end of the pitcher batting when normalcy is restored. I seriously doubt if this "special" season is adopted they will play by 2 different sets of rules.
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Post by hchoops on Apr 29, 2020 20:57:41 GMT -5
This might be the end of the pitcher batting when normalcy is restored. I seriously doubt if this "special" season is adopted they will play by 2 different sets of rules. So “normalcy” would mean the way the game was played normally for 100 years. Everyone who plays the field, bats
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 29, 2020 21:25:06 GMT -5
This might be the end of the pitcher batting when normalcy is restored. I seriously doubt if this "special" season is adopted they will play by 2 different sets of rules. So “normalcy” would mean the way the game was played normally for 100 years. Everyone who plays the field, bats I think the National League is the last league in the world that doesn't allow the DH. All the international leagues have DH's, College does, etc...
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Post by hchoops on Apr 29, 2020 21:42:30 GMT -5
“Everyone is doing it” is hardly a reason to follow. The game was played a certain way for many, many years for good reasons.It was intended for each of the nine players in the field to bat in turn. When some misguided and greedy American League owners wanted to make the game more “exciting” by scoring more runs, they came up with this misguided idea. O, and Little League, thank goodness, does not have the DH. Neither does coach pitch nor T-ball.
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Post by HC92 on Apr 29, 2020 21:50:04 GMT -5
In Little League, the kids who can pitch are almost always the best hitters as well.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 29, 2020 23:12:50 GMT -5
“Everyone is doing it” is hardly a reason to follow. The game was played a certain way for many, many years for good reasons.It was intended for each of the nine players in the field to bat in turn. When some misguided and greedy American League owners wanted to make the game more “exciting” by scoring more runs, they came up with this misguided idea. O, and Little League, thank goodness, does not have the DH. Neither does coach pitch nor T-ball. Amen, brother. Ever since Ron Blomberg became the first DH I have hated the rule. It should be stopped now. The DH and AstroTurf were two abominations foisted on the great game of baseball.
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Post by CHC8485 on Apr 30, 2020 5:24:28 GMT -5
I do not like the designated hitter. Never have. But it's almost 50 years since Ron Bloomberg took that first at bat as DH, so while you can throw 100 years of tradition, the DH is kind of a long-standing tradition now.
And as for that 100 years of tradition, there were all kind of rule changes from the founding of the National League in 1876. Originally it was 4 strikes & you're out, unless the catcher caught the 3rd strike. The sacrifice fly didn't come into existence until 1907. And I'm sure the height of the pitchers mound changed over the years.
Baseball's unwillingness to change, while somewhat refreshing in this day and age, is part of the reason the sport is dying. Do the standard 3 hour 15 minute slog-fests you see today really resemble the game you grew up with? How many people sit down to watch a full 9 inning game today? And while I'd prefer no DH to be the standard, I think it is time for MLB to decide and play by one set of rules.
I think 3 divisions, only playing in your highly regional division in a 100 game balanced schedule season has big potential to revive interest. How they work the playoffs will be interesting. Top 3(?) teams in each division with the bottom 2 third place teams starting in a 1 game play-in game?
It will be interesting.
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Post by hchoops on Apr 30, 2020 7:14:05 GMT -5
I do not like the designated hitter. Never have. But it's almost 50 years since Ron Bloomberg took that first at bat as DH, so while you can throw 100 years of tradition, the DH is kind of a long-standing tradition now. And as for that 100 years of tradition, there were all kind of rule changes from the founding of the National League in 1876. Originally it was 4 strikes & you're out, unless the catcher caught the 3rd strike. The sacrifice fly didn't come into existence until 1907. And I'm sure the height of the pitchers mound changed over the years. Baseball's unwillingness to change, while somewhat refreshing in this day and age, is part of the reason the sport is dying. Do the standard 3 hour 15 minute slog-fests you see today really resemble the game you grew up with? How many people sit down to watch a full 9 inning game today? And while I'd prefer no DH to be the standard, I think it is time for MLB to decide and play by one set of rules. Totally agree with your last sentence and with your twice stated sentiment that you do not like the DH. And it certainly does not speed up the game. So let’s all play by the same rule: NO DH.
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Post by Tom on Apr 30, 2020 8:46:50 GMT -5
My guess is that universal no DH is the least likely scenario.
For this year only, I am guessing there will be a DH in all parks.
If not that, since each division is half AL and half NL, keeping the current system of using DH rule of the home park would be the second most likely
In the short term, no DH would give a minor competitive advantage to NL teams. With greater player movement, not the big deal it was, but NL pitchers are used to batting and AL guys aren't. Last year Ed Rodriguez led the Red Sox pitchers with 7 at bats. The Dodgers had 9 pitchers with that many at bats. Four Dodgers had more than 40 Not an insurmountable obstacle, but this season with more than 50 percent of your games being interleague games, that minor advantage can add up. In normal years an AL team only has about 10 games with that minor disadvantage and everyone they're competing against for play-off spots is in the same boat having to play the same number of games at a disadvantage.
This year AL teams are competing for the same play-off spots as NL teams. I see almost no chance of pitchers batting throughout MLB this season
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Post by hchoops on Apr 30, 2020 8:54:04 GMT -5
Your mention of the home park being the determinant seems fair, no ? That is the World Series practice.as well as the practice during previous seasons.since inter league play began (another bad precedent) Not sure the NL owners would agree to DH only. That could signal that practice remaining after this season. With. D.h, hardly ever a pinch hitter, double switch. Why need a manager ? Save dollars.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 30, 2020 9:18:02 GMT -5
1) I like the benefit to the environment of shorter trips. 2) Home ballpark determines DH use. Players Union not giving up a tenth A.L. starting position without a fight.
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Post by timholycross on Apr 30, 2020 10:32:59 GMT -5
Glad I made that post! Started the kind of debate I wish we had more of here!
In this situation, I'd say avoiding injury is a big thing; therefore, don't risk your pitchers hitting or running the bases (Sox fans will remember Steven Wright a couple years ago). So, I'm thinking no DH is the way to go temporarily.
Yes, it's probably an advantage to the teams having a DH. However, there is plenty of time for the NL teams to make an adjustment to their rosters to fill that gap!
What I've never been able to understand about the way things are done now is that the home team is a slight favorite in baseball (a larger favorite in other sports); why not even things out a bit more and have the DH be in the NL parks and no DH in the AL parks?
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Post by hchoops on Apr 30, 2020 10:40:06 GMT -5
Glad I made that post! Started the kind of debate I wish we had more of here! In this situation, I'd say avoiding injury is a big thing; therefore, don't risk your pitchers hitting or running the bases (Sox fans will remember Steven Wright a couple years ago). So, I'm thinking no DH is the way to go temporarily. Yes, it's probably an advantage to the teams having a DH. However, there is plenty of time for the NL teams to make an adjustment to their rosters to fill that gap! What I've never been able to understand about the way things are done now is that the home team is a slight favorite in baseball (a larger favorite in other sports); why not even things out a bit more and have the DH be in the NL parks and no DH in the AL parks? one answer is fans' (if there are any) expectations
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Post by Tom on Apr 30, 2020 10:44:24 GMT -5
I'm sticking with my prediction of DH everywhere.
To me it comes down to whether you believe that having a pitcher bat is a competitive advantage for the teams with pitchers who are used to batting. If it is, and I think it is, it's tough to use the home rule this year. Not a big deal most years when the guy competing for that playoff spot are in the same boat. The Red Sox and the Yankees fight for that AL East spot, and yes they have to bat the pitcher in 6 percent of their games, but it's level. This year it's more than a quarter of the games and the guy gaining the advantage like the Nationals are now in the hunt for that same playoff spot the Red Sox and Yankees are playing for. Not so level. No judgement on whether the DH is good or bad, just my guess of how it will play out.
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Post by hchoops on Apr 30, 2020 10:50:18 GMT -5
Dr.Fauci’s latest talk indicates that there may not be anything to argue over.
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Post by alum on Apr 30, 2020 11:46:52 GMT -5
Unless it has changed, in AA and AAA, if both teams are affiliates of NL teams, there is no DH. I don't think that is likely as winning matters a lot more in the bigs than in the minors, so teams will want to build their rosters in the same way as their opponents.
It might be good, as long as we are experimenting, to get rid of the DH for a year and see what the fans think.
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Post by WCHC Sports on Apr 30, 2020 15:11:04 GMT -5
The double-switch? Stop the presses what titillating excitement to change names and batting positions on the score card! ::faints::
Okay I'm back and awake now. If pitchers could hit worth any proficiency, then it would be enjoyable to watch them hit. The joy and excitement and shock of a pitcher hitting a home run is not worth the vast majority of times they offer feeble resistance. Don't cite me 3 starting pitchers that can adequately hit in the current era. The vast majority are terrible. Batting averages are already low, do we need to have these guys hit?
If pitchers could run the bases with any proficiency, then it would be enjoyable to watch them hit. They have to wear a jacket . They won't steal bases. They won't take an extra base. They normally jog or half-run just so they won't get hurt. They aren't competing, they're avoiding injuries. Chein Ming Wang on the Yankees hurt himself running in an NL park. Masahiro Tanaka hurt himself running in an NL park. Pitchers get hurt PITCHING, now we're expected to have them avoid injuries batting and running?
Yes, the spirit of baseball in my eyes is "He who fields, hits." I believe that pure baseball is not the DH. This is coming from a life-long AL and DH fan. Since every team and nearly every level of baseball after little league will force pitchers to specialize and spend no time batting, then as a fan, I would rather somebody who deserved to step into the box and hit get that chance.
If you could correct the behavior of 50 years where pitchers hardly practice batting, or willingly sacrifice outs/at-bats/on the bases to just safely get back into the dugout, then I'd be interested. To me, it's like watching somebody quickly try to cross the street without getting hit by a car, and being happy once they do.
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Post by timholycross on Apr 30, 2020 18:00:50 GMT -5
If everything stays as is, in 2043, the AL will have had a DH longer than it did not.
Same thing has already happened to those who lamented that Babe Ruth's record was broken in 162 games, not 154, by Roger Maris (and, of course, broken a few times since). The 154 game schedule was used (w/a couple of exceptions for wars) for 58 years, the 162 for 59.
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Post by hchoops on Apr 30, 2020 20:23:10 GMT -5
According to an article in the NY Post today, the plan for the shortened season is to have all teams use the DH.
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Post by Tom on May 1, 2020 7:44:54 GMT -5
According to an article in the NY Post today, the plan for the shortened season is to have all teams use the DH. What was their source? The might have gotten the story from my post above.
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Post by hchoops on May 1, 2020 7:50:36 GMT -5
According to an article in the NY Post today, the plan for the shortened season is to have all teams use the DH. What was their source? The might have gotten the story from my post above. As I recall, it was not sourced. it was part of an article about Cespedes being the Mets DH when/if play resumes.
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Post by Tom on May 1, 2020 7:53:20 GMT -5
Barring contrary evidence, I am going to assume the Post reads Crossports and based their article on my post and thought process.
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Post by HC92 on May 1, 2020 16:06:30 GMT -5
Yankees and Mets getting some grief for their stingy ticket refund policies. nypost.com/2020/04/30/mets-yankees-deserve-blowback-over-coronavirus-ticket-refund-plans/On the other hand, I had 9 Red Sox tickets for an April game to meet up with some high school friends, one of whom was coming to town from Michigan to run the marathon. I called today, got a human on the phone almost immediately and he set up my refund. He did say that it could be a week to ten days before it shows up on my credit card due to the sheer number of such requests but it was pretty painless. Kudos to the Sawx.
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Post by Tom on May 2, 2020 8:19:34 GMT -5
Strange that the Mets and Yanks are only offering refunds on April games. I think that MLB has authorized teams to offer refunds through May. The reason no refunds were offered until just this week is because MLB hadn't authorized anything.
I can't speak for the Yanks or Mets, but I know the Red Sox are only offering refunds to people who bought their tickets from the Red Sox. Anyone who who bought their tickets from a third party has to deal with that third party. Locally, I think StubHub is not offering refunds, only credits
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