Designated Hitters in Baseball: Do You Think the DH Should Come to the National League? by Mike Prochaska
Do you think the designated hitter (DH) should come to the National League?
Major League Baseball (MLB) could see drastic changes as soon as this season with the designated hitter in the National League. I know having a designated hitter is supposed to protect the pitcher, but no! No! No! Make everyone bat that is part of baseball! I love seeing pitchers hit home runs. We as fans always remember when our favorite pitcher smacks home the winning run or, even better, out of the park home runs!
I think everyone should have to bat. I think it’s more exciting when the pitcher has to bat. You never know what is going to happen. I still remember watching Big Z (Carlos Zambrano) hit two home runs in one game, then pitch an amazing game and win it for the Chicago Cubs.
In over 12 MLB seasons, Zambrano has hit a total of 24 home runs in 693 at bats. That equates to one home run for every 28.88 at bats. The most home runs in a single season for Zambrano came in 2006 with six.
My favorite is when Kerry Wood in 2003 hit that amazing home run to put the Cubs in the lead in a playoff game. That never would have happened if the National League had the DH.
And no Cubs fan will ever forget Jake Arrieta’s home run in the 2016 National League series game three!
I still remember jumping up and down screaming at the TV, because there is nothing more exciting than watching a pitcher hit the ball out of the park. This what baseball is about! If anything, I think the American League should make their pitchers bat, too. So, I say no to the DH. I want to see pitchers bat!
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Jason J. Smith
All that being said, I don't see that happening in MLB. So, give the NL until 2020, or 2021 to get their rosters aligned and prepared for DHs. (Jeez, I hate saying that).