Fucking National League and their no DH!

[El Supremo]

Vlad fielded in only 18 games during the regular season. So sure he's going to make 2 errors.

But he hit .300 and had 115 RBI (led the team) and 29 HR.

[Auggie]

1. You know...

Washington had ample time to give him some practice in the outfield after the Rangers clinched the West. Could be argued he might also have risked injury, so who's to say what the right move was? Neither of last nights error really accounted for the loss. If there's one tonight that does though, they'll be a lot of second guessing.

[El Supremo]

4. Just got the word - he's benched.

Cruz will be back in right.

[Auggie]

7. Contrary to earlier reports...

but it's the smart move.

[TZ]

2. Am I the only baseball fan in America that doesn't

give a bleep about the DH rule? The AL has it. The NL doesn't. So what? Its never bothered me. I don't really understand why people both pro and anti get so worked up about it.

[El Supremo]

3. It's the so-called "purists" who get more worked up over it.

To me they are like "constructionists".

[LisaM]

5. It's just more fun to watch when they don't have the DH

it just involves more strategy. That's why I like it better.

[El Supremo]

6. Oh it's REAL FUN to watch your pitcher strike out.

Especially when the bases are loaded with two outs.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[petronius]

13. No, it's fun to watch the other team's pitcher strike out in that situation

When my pitcher does it, it simply highlights everything that is wrong and ungodly about the no-DH rule... ;)

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Fella, if the pitcher is batting in that situation . . .

. . . it's because his team doesn't need the runs.

[El Supremo]

17. "Doesn't need the runs" Whoh! Bapabaloopadoseedo! Psbtttt!

Fire that manager!

:crazy:

It's because they need the pitcher pitching!

[HuckleB]

18. I used to give a rip, but not much anymore.

I prefer no DH, but I'm fine with things the way they are.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. You don't like baseball?

That's what they play in the National League.

Golly, El Sup, you're gonna have a hard time following a real baseball manager's moves. I really pity you.

There was at least one case of an American League manager caught with his pants down in the World Series because he doesn't manage a real baseball game all year. I believe it was Bob Lemon of the Yankees. I know the opposing manager was Tommy Lasorda. Yankees had a runner at second with two outs and the number eight hitter coming to the plate. Lasorda looked out at the Yankee bullpen, saw that nobody was warming up, whistled at his pitcher and held up four fingers. I may hate the Dodgers, but I loved that.

That's elementary baseball strategy, something that makes any baseball game one hell of a lot more interesting that the extra half run per team per game that the American League scores by playing that cheap imitation of baseball they do.

[El Supremo]

9. I'll take action anytime over strategy.

And I don't think the strategy is all that more in the NL. Having to take out your pitcher more often is not my idea of good strategy.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Ah, you don't appreciate strategy

Perhaps you should take up chess. You'll develop a good appreciation of strategy and tactics.

Your language gives you away. Strategy isn't about having to change pitchers. Strategy is about deciding whether or not to change pitchers. There may be some benefit to not changing pitchers.

To illustrate this point, I recall a game played when I was in college. I would not have remembered the game, except that I was at the late, unlamented Candlestick Park when it was played. Charlie Fox was managing the Giants and the late, great Walter Alston was still managing the Dodgers. Fox kept changing pitchers at the drop of a hat. Alston, although the Dodgers trailed for most of the game, was more conservative about using his personnel that day. The game was close and the lead changed hands more than once. The Giants won the game by something like 8-7, but it was clear that if the game had gone to extra innings, the Dodgers probably would have won. The Dodgers had a better bullpen, and Fox had already used his.

Note the score was about 8-7. Note also from my previous post that the American League on average scores about half a run per team per game more than the National League. You may not think there is a lot more strategy in the National League, but that statistic suggests rather empirically that there isn't a lot more action in the American League.

[El Supremo]

15. Action doesn't equate to more runs.

Action is more like the anticipation of what will happen. Excitement! There is little excitement when you have to watch pitchers bat.

It's just a wasted at bat for most pitchers. It's nice that in the AL you don't have to worry about such a dumb rule left over from the Pleistocene.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Then the proper word is anticipation, not action

Action is when it happens.

And, since emasculating a thinking man's game results in so little "action", it seems like very frustrated anticipation indeed.

[El Supremo]

19. OK here I go! Chess analogies to the DH:

Not having a DH is like having to sacrifice a knight (pulling the pitcher for a pinch hitter) in order to keep up your attack.

Or like last night, having your most powerful piece (the Queen) blocked from making a checkmate by one of your own pawns (forcing a poor fielding DH to play in the outfield).

Whereas having a DH is like getting one of your pawns over to the other side and thus having two queens.

[Jack Rabbit]

20. Sacrificing is even better when its your Queen that goes off the board

It's the crowning glory of any chess player's experience.

In fact, and I hate to be the one to tell you this (OK, I'm lying -- I'm loving it), but a piece sacrifice is the height of strategy and tactics.

Getting an extra Queen wouldn't be the equivalent of having a DH; it compares more to a big inning.

Your analogies don't cut the mustard, Sup. You have demonstrated once again that you do not understand the very concept of strategy -- in chess or baseball. No wonder you think the DH is cool.

[KamaAina]

10. Did the Gee Dubyas not have interleague play in May and June?

like the other 31 teams? :shrug:

[El Supremo]

11. They only played those two new expansion teams.

:think:

[madinmaryland]

21. It's a vast national league conspiracy. Oh wait...

the only conspiracy in baseball comes from the Yankee$.

[hughee99]

22. When your relievers can't throw any strikes

it doesn't matter who's standing in the box.

[wilt the stilt]

23. Hey el sup- Nolan Ryan is against the DH

It's on yahoo sports and he says his preference is no DH.

[El Supremo]

24. I interpreted him as meaning for the World Series only.

And he gave no reason why he doesn't think the NL should use the DH for all games. Just his "preference".

[wilt the stilt]

25. no he didn't listen again

he said it made for less baseball and teams built their teams one way or the other. listen again