49th Anniversary Today

[Brad K]

June 23 1971 Rick Wise did something never done before: pitched a no hitter in which he, the pitcher, hit two home runs.

This record will stand forever. No more opportunities as the NL appears on the brink of selling out and adopting the DH. Yea, what a thrill, seeing players bat who are too crippled to even play first base.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Yea, what a thrill, seeing players bat who are too crippled to even play first base.

Now do pitchers at the plate

Ah, hell, I'll do it for you

Pitcher wRC+ hasn't been above 10 since 1958
It's been nearly 40 (1983) years since pitchers managed a 0 wRC+
The last 8 seasons It's been below -13
*https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-univ...-here-to-stay/

It's almost certain that the worst fielding DH is much better than the average hitting pitcher

The game has changed

https://youtu.be/eZDBMfe3iPE

[Brad K]

Somebody said pitchers are not ball players. Well, neither are DHs. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Somebody said pitchers are not ball players.

That's a dumb thing to say

Well, neither are DHs.

Which makes this a dumb thing to say, as well


I was strongly in the no DH camp as well
Thought players should both help their team score and help prevent the other team from scoring as well

But, it's time

[Westheim]

At least there'll always be OOTP, where baseball is played the proper way!

[CBeisbol]

Venn Diagram: people who complain that modern hitters just strike out and hit home runs and people who want pitchers to bat

Pitcher K% in 2019: 44%

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

2
That's a dumb thing to say

It was a pitcher who said it.

Its really true today.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Brad K

It was a pitcher who said it.

Curt Schilling exists, so we know that pitchers can say dumb things.

[Buster Cherry]

If baseball had adopted a designated runner way back when the likes of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb could have played well into their 50's. Both could still hit at the end of their careers but their legs were gone.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Buster Cherry

If baseball had adopted a designated runner way back when the likes of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb could have played well into their 50's. Both could still hit at the end of their careers but their legs were gone.

And the people complaining now about designated hitters would think the designated runner as natural as leather gloves, 4 balls for a walk, and the mound being 60 feet six inches from home plate.

[Brad K]

So what's next after the DH? Separate offensive and defensive players, a runner for everyone who reaches base, different vs right and vs left lineups that change during the game... the DH is the entry drug to all this.

[cephasjames]

Advertisements on the uniforms seems to be a big thing the owners are pushing for, per the recent negotiations.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Brad K

So what's next after the DH? Separate offensive and defensive players, a runner for everyone who reaches base, different vs right and vs left lineups that change during the game... the DH is the entry drug to all this.

I hope so

Even better than vs L and vs R lineups are no lineups at all!!!!! Manager decides who goes up to the plate at any time. But everyone has to bat n times before anyone can bat n+1 times.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Curt Schilling exists, so we know that pitchers can say dumb things.

Well, the quote was from Christy Matthewson not Curt Schilling.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

I hope so

Even better than vs L and vs R lineups are no lineups at all!!!!! Manager decides who goes up to the plate at any time. But everyone has to bat n times before anyone can bat n+1 times.

Instead of the 7th inning stretch we'll have a lunch hour.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Buster Cherry

If baseball had adopted a designated runner way back when the likes of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb could have played well into their 50's. Both could still hit at the end of their careers but their legs were gone.

So no matter how they got on base they would walk to first.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

But everyone has to bat n times before anyone can bat n+1 times.

Does that include the pitchers? If not what's next? An exception for catchers?

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Instead of the 7th inning stretch we'll have a lunch hour.

No.
If you're insinuating that the game would take longer, which I don't see why it would, then the number of innings could be reduced.

Originally Posted by Brad K

Does that include the pitchers? If not what's next? An exception for catchers?

If the manager wanted to put the pitcher batter list, then yes, otherwise, the pitcher, like the other defensive players, wouldn't be obligated to hit.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

If the manager wanted to put the pitcher batter list, then yes, otherwise, the pitcher, like the other defensive players, wouldn't be obligated to hit.

So now the manager decides who will bat. Could he perhaps specify as few as six batters?

[CBeisbol]

We usually go with 7
6 could also work