There
are multiple angles in the DH debate. So-called baseball purists
claim that any change to the game makes it somehow less spectacular
than it's original, unaltered state (as if it's still anywhere close
to the same game played in the 1860's). By and large, fans of
American League teams seem to support a unilateral DH rule, as it
wouldn't really affect their teams except when they play in NL parks,
and it would only impact them positively anyway. Many NL team fans
cite their love of the advanced late-game strategy that the lack of a
DH demands; managers must weigh the pros of a pinch hitter against
the cons of removing a starting pitcher who is performing well. Some
people want their to be a universal rule either way, by either
removing the AL DH or implementing the rule in the NL.
I
think there is a way to satisfy everyone's joneses.
The
rule would be the same for both leagues, and implemented at the same
time, at the start of a season (obviously spring training would be
the time to work out the kinks).
At
the start of every game, one player from each team shall be named as
the Designated Hitter (DH). The DH is eligible to be placed in any
spot in the order at the presentation of lineups. The DH will hit for
one defensive player, called the Designated Fielder (DF), who shall
also be named at the presentation of the lineups. The DH will take
the turn at bat of the DF every time his spot in the line up comes
up, UNTIL such time that the DF is removed from the game for any
reason. From that point forward, whatever player replaces the DF in
the field shall take the next turn at bat for that spot in the order,
and the DH becomes ineligible for the rest of the game. Alternately,
if the manager knows they are going to be lifting the pitcher soon,
they can move the DH into the field, forcing the pitcher to now be
considered a batter, as is currently the rule.
Example:
Chicago White Sox designate Jose Abreu as the DH, and he will be
hitting third for starting pitcher Jose Quintana, who is the DF.
After LF Melky Cabrera, batting second, makes the last out in the
bottom of the 5th, Abreu is due up in the bottom of the 6th, but in
the TOP of the 6th, Quintana runs into trouble. The manager now faces
the dilemma of losing Abreu's bat in favor of getting Quintana out of
the game before he gives up too many hits. The manager elects to
replace Quintana with a relief pitcher, Matt Albers. In a straight
substitution scenario, Albers would now take not only Quintana's
place on the mound, but Abreu's third spot in the lineup as well,
batting next in the upcoming inning. Alternately, the manager may
wish to employ a double switch, putting Leury Garcia in LF, batting
in the third spot, and putting Albers into the 2nd spot in the
lineup, which is now vacated by Melky Cabrera. Or, if the manager
knows he is going to replace Quintana, he can move Abreu to 1B, at
which point starting 1B Adam LaRoche, who was batting fifth, becomes
ineligible, and Quintana is now considered the fifth hitter.
You
get the AL offensive prowess of a DH as long as the starting pitcher
is doing well, but once you take him out, the NL style strategy takes
over. You can, with creative use of substitutions, keep pitchers from
ever coming to bat in many games, at the risk of emptying your bench,
but it still requires a keen strategic mind not only in
substitutions, but in creating your lineup as well (if your DH is
likely to be replaced by a pitcher (or utility player in a double
switch) at some point, are you really going to bat him fourth every
game?). It would also discourage managers from using their most
potent bat as a DH on a regular basis, in that the DH will likely be
pulled after two at bats.
