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The Atlanta Braves are A National League Team: A Designated Hitter Sound Off

By Dan Horton

Jul 11, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; National League pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) of the Chicago Cubs with son Cooper Arrieta during the All Star Game home run derby at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; National League pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) of the Chicago Cubs with son Cooper Arrieta during the All Star Game home run derby at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia (left) knocks down a ball in front of shortstop Erick Aybar (1) allowing a runner to reach base against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia (left) knocks down a ball in front of shortstop Erick Aybar (1) allowing a runner to reach base against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Braves Who Could Be a DH

Adonis Garcia would make a solid DH, in the AL. This is because he is a liability in the field defensively. Until his last stop in Gwinnett, he was having a bad go at it on defense. So obviously, he was being talked about as DH and a trade candidate.

Up until recently, Erick Aybar could be mentioned in that breath, too. Both of these guys have turned the corner, hopefully, in the defense department. Garcia is still the better hitter, but Aybar probably has little to no value in that area, and that’s a shame.

If a guy can’t field the baseball, then why would you reward him with possibly more earning potential to eliminate that very important aspect of the game? Defense is a part of the game. A pitcher still has to field his position, so he should hit. A DH doesn’t.

I don’t understand if a pitcher puts a team in the hole on the mound, why it’s acceptable for him to sit on the bench and watch his teammates try to bail him out of it? Why not give him the chance offensively to make up for a couple bad pitches?

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    • In the AL, it’s a primary position. Why? If you can’t field, why are you allowed to play at all? Essentially, you’re rewarding a guy that can’t play the field, by giving him millions of dollars not to. What happened to 5-tool players, being able to play defense at every spot on the diamond?

    I was taught that if you couldn’t catch, you didn’t play. Teams don’t have the the time for defensive liabilities. Throw it, hit it, catch it; that’s baseball. Not just hit it. Why would anyone be satisfied by being 1/3 of a player? It’s the most fundamental part of the game.

    Incomplete players should not be awarded for basic fundamental discrepancies and shortcomings.

    Baseball players should be able to field a baseball cleanly, make solid and accurrate throws, and commit as few errors as possible. While it does happen, it shouldn’t be considered what qualifies you to be a DH.

    Pitchers are injured far more frequently on the mound pitching than they are in the batter’s box hitting or running the bases. I understand the risk of pitcher hitting. But if that truly is the case, then why not let them hit. It’s not like they are in the box more than twice a game anyway, as often as pitching changes are made.

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