Destroying America's Game
By: Dylan McNabb
Do people pay hundreds of dollars every year to go to baseball games to see a pitcher hit? In 2020 the MLB made a new rule that both the National and American League would be able to have another player hit for the pitcher. This brought a whole new aspect to the game of baseball because now the National and American League would be on the same playing field. Before only the American League could have a designated hitter or DH which is what it is called when another player hits for the pitcher.
The MLB changed this rule for the 2020 season, so pitchers could stay healthy and be able to perform at a high level without tiring as easily. The MLB in 2020 went to a 60 game season and had more games every week to try to fit these 60 games into a shortened season. With having more games every week it made it where pitchers had to pitch more which would make it where these pitchers have more stress on their body, so the MLB decided they didn’t need even more stress on their body by having them hit. This gave many opportunities to young players by allowing them to play which they may not have gotten without the DH rule. Also, this gave opportunities to players that haven’t played a lot before, but now they were able to play and become stars.
Most teams used the DH to give players a day off from playing a full game, so they would be able to hit, but they didn’t have to play the field. This is especially useful for older players that are still stars, but they may not have the energy they once had when they were younger so this gives these players a bit of a break. This rule made the game of baseball more exciting because it helped pitchers perform at a higher level by allowing them to solely focus on pitching. Also, instead of having an almost guaranteed out whenever a pitcher got up to bat that team could have someone that focuses on hitting every day up to bat to potentially hit the ball. The people watching a baseball game want to see the most action possible and having another true hitter in the lineup increases the chance of more action. In the article “The Importance of a DH” Francis Isberto writes, “look what happened to Yankees former ace Chien-Ming Wang who suffered a foot injury while running the bases against the Houston Astros.” Without the DH rule in effect, pitchers are more at risk of getting hurt and never fully recovering.
On January 25th, 2021 the Major League Baseball Players Association declined the idea of having a DH for the 2021 season. In the article “MLBPA Rejects MLB’s Universal DH-for-Expanded Postseason Offer” by Michael Logan, he writes, “however, the league views the creation of 15 DH jobs as a financial gain for the players, which would require a trade-off.” With the MLBPA rejecting the idea of a DH made by the MLB, the teams of the MLB are left without knowing who they should pick up from the free-agent market or resign because they don’t know if there is going to be a DH officially. Many players are in favor of the idea of having a DH and coaches agree as well. Sandy Alderson said, “‘having a DH in the National League is a good thing. The fact is, pitchers, can’t even bunt anymore.”’ When pitchers get drafted into the MLB they don’t get drafted to be hitters they get drafted to pitch.
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