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

The Players’ Voices

The players today are somewhat split in their stances. Fangraphs even went as far as to talk to a few of the players and coaches last year to get their take.

There were valid points for both arguments; of course you had your league alliances and biases. But of the players talked to, about half (7/15) were for no DH, even less than that were for the DH (5/15), and only 3 were neutral on the issue.

Here are some of the responses from the players.

"“I think it will eventually happen in both leagues. A lot of money is paid for starting pitchers, and many of us aren’t comfortable hitting. Everybody is a competitor, so when you hit a ground ball, you want to run it out. Guys get injuries running the bases. I’d be in favor of having the DH in both leagues. It would make baseball better. I think there should be uniformity, but only if the DH was in both leagues.” – Clay Buchholz"

"“A pitcher that can handle the bat can be an advantage. Most of the advantage comes from the managers who know how to manage in the National League. I think Bochy is a prime example of somebody who is able to stay one step ahead of managers who aren’t used that kind of game. I feel like it’s a purer style of baseball. A monkey could manage an American League team. If you have a good team, put the lineup out there and take the pitcher out when he’s not getting outs. “I’m okay with the DH in one league. I definitely don’t think it should be in both leagues. If there is the same rule for both leagues, it should be the National League rule. It’s more of a baseball game.” – Tim Hudson"

"“I like the pitcher hitting. That’s pure baseball. The DH was a way to get more offense in the game. Every change they’ve made in this game has been to get more offense. Lowering the mound, adding the DH, trying to shrink the strike zone, new ballparks have no foul room. Being a traditionalist, I like all-around pitchers who can help themselves at the plate. I like the strategy of it. I think neither league should have a DH. It’s a better game without it.” – Mike Maddux"

"“I grew up in the National League where we never had the DH and thought we didn’t need a DH. But as I’ve managed, I’ve warmed to the idea. It doesn’t just add the offense you get from another hitter in your lineup, it also gives you more little-ball opportunities with the bottom of your lineup. In the National League, it’s tough to move a runner up with the pitcher’s spot coming up. With regular hitters all the way through the lineup, you might move runners up with your eight-hitter and try to score a run with an out. In the National League, that strategy just doesn’t play. I would like it to be uniform, but I don’t think we’re ever going to get rid of the DH. It’s working with it different in the two leagues, but I would love for it to someday just be baseball, the same baseball in both leagues.” – Mike Scioscia"

"“I think the DH is good for baseball. The pitcher hitting is the purest form of the game, but having a DH adds to the excitement. Some of the DHs out there are players people pay a lot to watch. We’ve done it for so long now, and I’m OK with that, but I wouldn’t mind seeing both leagues go with it at some point. It’s not a priority for me, but I’d like to see it be consistent.” – Steve Buechele"

This is probably the most common stance of most players. But Buechele sparks another point for me. Yes, some DH’s are players people pay a lot to see. And pitchers aren’t?

I’d pay the money to watch Clayton Kershaw pitch. I pay the money to go see Madison Bumgarner pitch AND hit. What does people paying the money to see DH’s have to do with any of this?

Next: Making Something out of Nothing