Among those knowledgeable on the subject, few things arouse more passionate and reasoned arguments than the Designated Hitter rule in Baseball. The pro and con camps are well-defined, and no quarter is asked nor given. That the DH eliminates much of a Manager's strategic decision-making is unquestioned. The American League has decided the sport needs more offense to entertain the fans; for many, watching a pitcher hit is as exciting as watching paint dry, hence the DH in the AL and in the AL parks during the World Series. The current World Series situation, to me, seems to give a distinct advantage to the National League which is used to playing without the DH but gets an additional regular hitter in the AL parks.
Historically, the DH position has been filled by power-hitters, either aging and past their prime as an everyday player OR a hitter who is a definite liability in the field. My solution will change this situation and place value on players with complete baseball skills, especially those capable of fielding more than one position, and actually create MORE managerial options in game strategy and pitching staff management.
Under my Solution, any person with enough baseball knowledge to be able to "watch" a game from the Managers' perspectives will easily think of many, many possible new game situation managerial options, decisions, and strategies.
**** Expand the roster by three players, which my Solution will likely dictate to be complete players. The players union should love this, and the teams will likely not be paying them the huge money big-boppers usually command.
**** The DH must always bat in the traditional pitcher's slot ... ninth.
**** Here is the big one ....... If the Manager makes a pitching change, he also must change the DH on the lineup card at the time of the pitching change, even if the starting DH has not yet had an at-bat. This only applies to the first pitching change in an inning. If there are multiple pitching changes in any inning, there is only the one DH change in that inning. The new DH must be a player from the bench (or a roster catcher from the bullpen; pitchers are not eligible to DH with one exception to be explained below). A new DH must stay in the game for at least one at-bat, regardless of any other pitching changes by his team made before his time to bat comes up UNLESS the other team makes a pitching change in which case the manager may pinch hit for the DH or replace him with a new DH. (This provision is a disincentive to the manager to insert as DH an injured player, or a player he intends to give the day off, when the DH turn at bat is several hitters away and then make a DH change before the next DH at-bat.)
**** At the time of the pitcher/DH change, the Manager can make a switch by having the current DH take a position in the field (this places value on players who can also play multiple positions in the field). If the DH at the time of an inning's first pitching change is not placed in the field, he is done for the game as is any position player the DH might replace unless the manager makes a double-switch involving the player whose position the DH takes.
**** Players who are currently playing a position in the field are not eligible to switch to DH.
**** After a third DH change has been made because of a pitching change by his team, that DH may remain in the game regardless of the number of subsequent pitching changes by his team (this provision prevents compulsory exhaustion of the bench by pitching changes.) If the fourth DH must leave the game because of injury or a pinch hitter, he may be replaced by a bench or bullpen regular player for the remainder of the game, or if regular position players have been exhausted, this is the only time a pitcher from the bullpen may DH.
My Solution gives more opportunities for truly versatile baseball players and creates many more decisions for Managers. The baseball world is welcome to apply my Solution to a Great American Controversy, and if they do, I only ask that it be known as the Swain Solution. LOL.
(more articles for your entertainment or irritation available in BLOG ARCHIVE near top right of this page.)
Historically, the DH position has been filled by power-hitters, either aging and past their prime as an everyday player OR a hitter who is a definite liability in the field. My solution will change this situation and place value on players with complete baseball skills, especially those capable of fielding more than one position, and actually create MORE managerial options in game strategy and pitching staff management.
Under my Solution, any person with enough baseball knowledge to be able to "watch" a game from the Managers' perspectives will easily think of many, many possible new game situation managerial options, decisions, and strategies.
**** Expand the roster by three players, which my Solution will likely dictate to be complete players. The players union should love this, and the teams will likely not be paying them the huge money big-boppers usually command.
**** The DH must always bat in the traditional pitcher's slot ... ninth.
**** Here is the big one ....... If the Manager makes a pitching change, he also must change the DH on the lineup card at the time of the pitching change, even if the starting DH has not yet had an at-bat. This only applies to the first pitching change in an inning. If there are multiple pitching changes in any inning, there is only the one DH change in that inning. The new DH must be a player from the bench (or a roster catcher from the bullpen; pitchers are not eligible to DH with one exception to be explained below). A new DH must stay in the game for at least one at-bat, regardless of any other pitching changes by his team made before his time to bat comes up UNLESS the other team makes a pitching change in which case the manager may pinch hit for the DH or replace him with a new DH. (This provision is a disincentive to the manager to insert as DH an injured player, or a player he intends to give the day off, when the DH turn at bat is several hitters away and then make a DH change before the next DH at-bat.)
**** At the time of the pitcher/DH change, the Manager can make a switch by having the current DH take a position in the field (this places value on players who can also play multiple positions in the field). If the DH at the time of an inning's first pitching change is not placed in the field, he is done for the game as is any position player the DH might replace unless the manager makes a double-switch involving the player whose position the DH takes.
**** Players who are currently playing a position in the field are not eligible to switch to DH.
**** After a third DH change has been made because of a pitching change by his team, that DH may remain in the game regardless of the number of subsequent pitching changes by his team (this provision prevents compulsory exhaustion of the bench by pitching changes.) If the fourth DH must leave the game because of injury or a pinch hitter, he may be replaced by a bench or bullpen regular player for the remainder of the game, or if regular position players have been exhausted, this is the only time a pitcher from the bullpen may DH.
My Solution gives more opportunities for truly versatile baseball players and creates many more decisions for Managers. The baseball world is welcome to apply my Solution to a Great American Controversy, and if they do, I only ask that it be known as the Swain Solution. LOL.
(more articles for your entertainment or irritation available in BLOG ARCHIVE near top right of this page.)
No comments:
Post a Comment