Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekchips.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekcrl!tekchips!stevev From: stevev@tekchips.UUCP (Steve Vegdahl) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Which league is the minor league? Message-ID: <352@tekchips.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 12:47:44 EST Article-I.D.: tekchips.352 Posted: Fri Nov 8 12:47:44 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 09:27:58 EST References: <1147@decwrl.UUCP> <17068@watmath.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 46 > > AL pitchers must face a rested power hitter every 9 batters, while NL > pitchers face an easy out. NL pitchers have the tough job of bunting > or grounding out each time through the order, but it's not the same > challenge as facing some of the better bats in baseball. > > > As you can tell, I'm all for the DH rule. We don't go to games to > watch pitchers get out at bat. We go to see baseball, with people doing > what they do best. In that case, I'll propose another rule change: free substitution. KC leads off with George Brett. He grounds out. That's OK. Reshuffle your batting order. Next batter: George Brett. He hits a single. Willie Wilson goes in to pinch-run. Next batter: George Brett. If our philosophy is to see "people doing what they do best", today's baseball rules (even with the DH) do not go far enough. Why should I put up with Buddy Biancalana (sp?) batting every ninth time when I could see George Brett instead?! Why should I have to watch Lonnie Smith play outfield. The game would be of higher quality if we replaced him with some unknown player who is a spectacular fielder but can't hit. Having the DH may marginally increase the challenge to a pitcher, but it significantly DECREASES the challenge to a manager. One of the beauties of baseball is the tradeoffs that a Manager must in balancing players strengths against their weaknesses. Do I put in a poor fielder at the expense of weakening my defense? Do I make a defensive substitution in the late innings? Do I pinch-run for a slow player in a close game or do I leave his bat in the lineup in case the game goes into extra innings? Baseball is a game of balance. A player who is good at many aspects of the game is more valuable. As far as I'm concerned, the DH * is an unnecessary wart in the rules of baseball * robs the game of much of its strategy * penalizes good-hitting (i.e., balanced-skill) pitchers It also makes comparisons of players records more difficult when they are between different leagues and/or eras, but other changes to baseball (e.g., lowering pitcher's mound, artificial turf, night baseball) also have this effect. Steve Vegdahl Computer Research Lab. Tektronix, Inc. Beaverton, Oregon