The Designated Hitter

The National League (aka, the "inferior league" as I like to call it) should wise up and go with having a DH...not such a popular idea with the purists, but it's time for the NL to get with the times. The American League began using the designated hitter position on Opening Day 1973. The theory itself was developed much earlier and historians have found an instance where Connie Mack made a case for the position in 1906. In 1928 National League President (1918-1934) John Heydler wanted to bring the DH to the senior circuit in an attempt to speed up the game, but the idea was rejected during the Winter Meetings. Two early attempts that failed, but on Opening Day 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first designated hitter in the history of baseball starting a three-year experiment that has lasted more than twenty-five years. The DH provides the fans a better game by watching the best pitchers vs. the best hitters throughout the game.

I will give my top ten reasons why having the DH is best for the game of baseball:

10.) It keeps the game exciting for fans by having another power hitter in the lineup. 

9.) It extends the careers of great hitters (like Tony Gwynn, Frank Thomas, and Paul Molitor) who can't manage the wear and tear of the long season due to age.

8.)  Once the pitchers get to the Bigs, they suck at hitting and base running- (Chien Ming Wang)

7.) All of the top contenders have them. (BoSox, NYY, ANA)

6.) What's better? A sac bunt or a mile-long blast into the upper deck by Harold Baines.

5.) The DH is used in most professional leagues around the world and in all NCAA games.

4.) The DH position is used for injury recovering players to help get in game shape.

3.) The DH position is used to give players a partial day-off, giving them some rest while the other team is batting.

2.) The DH removes the "easy out" that a batting pitcher provides.

1.) Big Papi...need I say more?