Below is a list of
links that lead to articles by parties representing the arguments
for and against the Designated Hitter. You be the judge of what
is best for the grand-old game: inflated scores and further dilution of talent, or preservation of the United
States' National Pastime.
Bud Selig answers my question regarding the Designated Hitter
(Recently a Town Hall meeting was conducted to coincide Major League Baseball's all star game. Bud Selig took the time to answer fans questions regarding a multitude of issues as the link above will show)
John F: "What is your current stance on the designated hitter? Is it something you want to address in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement? Will the DH be abolished?"
Bud Selig: Well, I voted for the designated hitter in 1972 at the Plaza Hotel and it's the only thing in my career I ever agreed on with (former Oakland owner) Charlie Finley. But I did because offense was down and (former American League president) Joe Cronin and everybody thought that we ought to do something to liven up the offense a little bit.
Now, you have a situation where the National League, obviously, will never go to the designated hitter. American League clubs like it, but I would say, John, to you, what I have often said; that I think it will take a (cataclysmic) event, whatever that is, a lot of realignment; I think that's the way that we will move the designated hitter, where both leagues are playing by the same rules.
Having said that, (Phillies chairman) Bill Giles, who is not a controversial guy, said to me a few years ago, "So what's wrong with the leagues having different rules? It makes for a lot of great conversation and rivalry and I don't think it's so terrible."
Well, I have to agree with him. I would like to have a standardized rule. I would, under the circumstances, but with all of the problems that we have facing baseball, this is not something I spend a lot of time worrying about
For a direct head-to-head article on the Pro's and Con's of the Designated hitter issue, click HERE and you will be transported to a USA Today's Baseball Weekly column.... Featuring Bob Costas (TV Analyst and baseball guru) versus Peter Angelos (owner of the Baltimore Orioles) and a direct pro Vs. con argument of the Designated Hitter.
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AGAINST THE USE OF THE DESIGNATED HITTER |
PRO-DESIGNATED HITTER ARGUMENTS |
| Hal Bock (Associated Press) | Mark L. Bakke - Night Owl MK. II |
| Byron Vogel - KSU Senior | Dean Juipe - Las Vegas Sun |
| Donutrun Soapbox - 10 reasons the DH is "lame" | Paul Daugherty - The Enquirer |
| Joe Frisaro - Fox Sports Biz.com | "Miss Baseball" - Edgar Martinez fan |
| Jim Jeffcoat - Write in Opinion | |
| My Own Opinion on the Designated Hitter | |
If you know of any other published articles on the World Wide Web that present a For or Against argument on the subject of the Designated Hitter, or would like to submit your own essay to be published here on Abolish the Designated Hitter, please send the URL or the Essay (with the message title being "DH Argument") to the Webmaster where it will be reviewed and added appropriately.