As interleague play kicks off, the idea of the designated hitter will once again be debated.
Alex in Bangor, Maine asks whether the DH rule should be enforced in all interleague games.
Make no mistake about it: the DH is here to stay. Not only has it proven a great draw for fans in the American League, but the players love it as well because it gives an additional chance to start as well as make more money.
The National League is holding fast to its old-school roots, however, and making the pitcher bat.
And that’s what happens in a NL park during interleague match-ups, regardless of whether the visiting club is in the American League or not. Though a notable exception is the rescheduled Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies series where the Jays will “host” the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park because of the G20 Summit.
This rule has been responsible for some significant injuries to AL clubs. For example, Josh Beckett was recently placed on the disabled list with back problems after struggling through Tuesday’s start against the Yankees. He first experienced back problems taking hacks in the cage in preparation for stepping to the plate against the Phillies.
Chien-Ming Wang saw his season end on June 15, 2008 when running the bases in the Houston Astros’ park. He then struggled through an ineffective 2009 and is now currently rehabbing a right shoulder injury as a member of the Washington Nationals.
Should pitchers unfamiliar with the stresses of hitting and running be forced to do so just to continue a tradition that has clearly passed its time? After all, pitchers hit in the early going when they were expected to produce on offense. Nowadays, seeing a pitcher swing the lumber productively is as common as seeing a position player toe the mound and toss a 1-2-3 inning.
Give us your take. Text “SOX1” to 542542 if the DH should be used in all games, text “SOX2” to 542542 if you think the rule as it stands is fine.
As of 3 p.m. on Saturday, 56 percent of voters agree that the DH should be used in interleague games.
