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NL Designated Hitter Might Soon Be at an Atlanta Braves Game Near You

By Alan Carpenter

Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis hits a single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis hits a single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 8th inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 8th inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Lots of Buzz This Week About an NL DH as Owners Meet in Florida

This week marked another of the regular Quarterly meetings of baseball’s owners, this being held in Coral Gables, FL.  As 2016 is now upon us, topics are now under discussion that will come up toward the end of the year as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between ownership and the player is due for re-negotiation.  It’s five-year run expires on December 1st.

There were reportedly a number of topics on the owner’s agenda this week, most of them about money.  Revenue sharing, the luxury tax, and the extent that some clubs might not be doing their part to raise their own revenues… relying instead on the largess of big-market clubs to fund their teams.

But something that wasn’t on the docket for this week has gotten a lot of play in media circles… and that’s trickled into the owner’s discussions as well:  the Designated Hitter.

This doesn’t come as any surprised, personally.  In fact, this was actually predicted – almost 9 months ago.  But even back just a couple of months ago, this wasn’t seen as a possibility by those ‘in the know’.

Ah, but times, they are a’changin.  The operative word that seemed to be circulating in news stories this week is “momentum”.  Here’s a key quote from Cardinals GM John Mozeliak:

"“I do feel like there were times I could look all of you in the face and say it’s a non-starter, it’s not being discussed at the owner level or GM,” Mozeliak said at the Cardinal’s 20th annual fanfest. “But over the past year it has. I’m not suggesting you’re going to see a change but I definitely think the momentum (has changed).”"

Even the Commissioner of Baseball has weighed in:

"This year may be the last for pitchers batting anywhere in Major League Baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred said a proposal to extend the designated hitter to the National League is “gaining momentum,” according to Newsday baseball columnist David Lennon."

Next: The Whys and the the Whens Revealed?

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