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The Atlanta Braves are A National League Team: A Designated Hitter Sound Off

By Dan Horton

Jul 11, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; National League pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) of the Chicago Cubs with son Cooper Arrieta during the All Star Game home run derby at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; National League pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) of the Chicago Cubs with son Cooper Arrieta during the All Star Game home run derby at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Braves’ Adonis Garcia Could Be a DH; But Why?

The following are entirely my own opinions and do not directly reflect anyone else’s views on the subject matter. Fangraph References can be found in this article.

May 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wooden baseball bats rest in the rack before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wooden baseball bats rest in the rack before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

To DH, or Not to DH?

In 1972, the year before the Designated Hitter was instituted by Major League Baseball, pitchers always hit. It wasn’t until 1973 that the DH was incorporated into the American League, and has been there ever since. The DH continues to be a hot button issue in the league.

The premise of the DH was to create more offense. In that same breath, it seems every change, save the slide rules for home plate and second, have been to benefit hitters.

Aside from the DH, the mound has been lowered on more than one occasion. Baseballs themselves are been wound tighter. New parks are smaller (thus, hitter’s parks).

The game has seen more change to put offense on a pedestal and maintain the status quo for pitching. The numbers suggest that as well.

But my stance is this. Is it working the way it was intended, or are we’re just seeing the pitcher as a hitter, diminish. I’m of the traditionalist opinion.

I can’t say that I hate the DH, But I can’t say that I agree with it either.

As baseball fans, we seek to know not just the game, but the history of the game. The game was created with no DH. It’s the purest form of the game.

I enjoy the intrigue, though, of the National League game; the strategy. Pitching around hitters, putting a guy on to get to the pitcher, then that backfiring.

A pinch hitter coming up, the squeeze bunt (which is a lost art in today’s game), a SAC bunt, the pitcher not being completely helpless, the double switch, actually managing a bench.

The AL managers don’t have to worry about double switches as much and rarely use pinch hitters at the rate the NL does.

Next: Two Braves DH Possibilities?

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