Don't take their bats away...
I had planned a post about my recent Dodger ttm returns tonight, but due to what's going on in Major League Baseball right now, I decided to write about what I think is a very important aspect of our National Pastime that I love so much.
If you believe the offices of Major League Baseball, people everywhere are up in arms wanting them to tarnish the legacy of the National League by adding the designated hitter.
Blasphemy!
The National League not having a designated hitter makes me love the National League so much more. It makes it a more strategic game. Should I pull my starter a couple of innings early because we have a good chance at getting a run across?
Sure, most of the time the pitcher fails at doing something he's not even paid to do, hit. But those times they connect sure are magical.
Like when Kenta Maeda went yard in his Major League debut on April 6, 2016.
Fernando Valenzuela was a very formidable hitter in his day. He batted .202 with 8 home runs and 163 hits for the Dodgers in his 11 years with the team.
Mike Morgan didn't fare so well at the plate for L.A. He finished a 3 year stint with a .098 average and 18 hits.
Dennis Cook looks like he has no idea what to do with that bat. His stats seem to back that up. 2 years in Los Angeles netted him a .250 average and 2 hits.
In Jim Neidlinger's one season in the bigs, he batted .120 with 3 hits, 1 run and 2 RBI's.
Tim Belcher trying to lay down that bunt. In Belcher's 5 seasons in L.A., he put up a batting average of .114 with 28 hits. Belcher hit his only Dodger home run in that magical 1988 season, also his rookie year.
Kevin Gross loose on the base paths?!?! Kevin mustered a .166 average in 4 seasons with the Dodgers. Kevin did score 15 runs and drive in 13 while hitting 2 home runs.
Pedro Astacio's batting average was a paltry .117 during his 6 year stint with L.A. 31 hits in Dodger blue.
In 7 seasons with the Boys in Blue, Valdes batted .114 with 35 hits, one of which was a home run.
Perez' Dodger totals were a .119 average, 27 hits and 1 homer. Man, Fernando's .200 average is looking pretty healthy for a pitcher huh?
4 years in L.A. netted Derek Lowe a .126 average and 32 hits.
One of the best hitting pitchers in Dodger history, Greinke batted .249 in his 3 seasons with the team. he had 46 hits and 3 home runs in that span.
Kersh with a bat! a 12 year tenure in L.A. has gotten Clayton a .159 batting average, 105 hits and 1 home run.
Man, am I gonna miss this dude next year, Don't have a card of him with a bat, but I had to include him since he hit his first career home run last year. it was such a great moment.
Orel Hershiser was great at the plate as well. All Dodger fans remember his heroics in the batter's box during that 1988 playoff run.
If they take the pitcher's hitting away from us, it is gonna take away so many great memories to come. And it gives these pitchers something to strive for. Watch the video of Ryu hitting his first home run and tell me that wasn't one for the ages.
Throwing this out there so you guys can keep score. Up to 8 2011 Topps Cognac Diamond Anniversary (or the more affectionate Liquorfractors as they're known in the Blogosphere) Dodgers. If anyone has any I need from Topps flagship or Update, hit me up. Really want to finish this set.
Once again, thanks for reading.
I like NL baseball better because of the strategy involved with having the pitcher hit. I just don't think the AL has enough of that chess match with the DH. (Plus cards of pitchers hitting rule!)
ReplyDeleteCards of pitchers hitting do rule!
DeleteI think Dodgers and Mets fans have a particular appreciation for pitchers hitting because both teams have often had very good hitting pitchers, from Drysdale to Syndergaard.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the current setup. If you like the DH, great--follow an AL team. If you don't, follow an NL one. Pitchers who hit can go to the NL; hitters who can't play the field when they get older or get hurt can go to the AL. I realize that interleague play (which I'd be just as happy to get rid of) complicates matters, but don't let the tail wag the dog. JoePo did a survey a few years ago which showed that while AL fans love the DH, NL fans emphatically don't want it. https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/the-dh-pete-rose-and-other-stuff
As the wise ancient Romans used to say, Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
The Dodgers have had enough Pitchers Who Rake moments that every time some AL fan bully (and that's exactly what they are because they know the universal DH is coming and there's not a thing anyone can do about it) whines about "another pitcher striking out three times a game," I laugh and laugh and remember Fernando, Kershaw, stories about Newcombe and so many others.
ReplyDeleteThe DH WILL come to the National League and when it does, that is when you will see an epic rant from me. People will think that baseball finally makes sense with both leagues having the DH. But it won't make sense at all. It will just be another case of the WE NEED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT crowd getting their way and sacrificing yet another one of the great little moments that make baseball so wonderful.
Let them hit! Let them hit! Let them hit!
ReplyDelete