With MLB and the MLBPA reportedly preparing to ramp up talks on the structure of the 2021 season and the potential continuation of 2020 rule changes, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Major League Baseball sent a memo to clubs just last week telling them to operate under the assumption that there will not be a universal DH in 2021.
It’s not a firm declaration that there will be no NL DH next season, and the two sides will surely discuss the matter further as they also assess 2020 changes like seven-inning doubleheaders, runners on second base in extra innings, roster size and expanded playoffs. Both sides have clear reasons to want the universal DH, and its permanent implementation is broadly seen as a question of “when” that will happen rather than “if” it will happen.
With regard to the current offseason, it’s a particularly important element for several players. Nelson Cruz is the most obvious name impacted by the universal designated hitter (or lack thereof) in 2021, but it’ll have an impact on other free agents as well. The Braves used Marcell Ozuna at DH more than in left field last year, and concerns about how his defense will hold up over the course of a multi-year pact will surely impact his earning potential among NL clubs. Michael Brantley could benefit from more time at designated hitter, and there are several first base types who’d benefit from the addition of 15 new DH spots.
The lack of clarity on the matter has likely already contributed to some offseason decisions. Perhaps the Cubs would’ve non-tendered Kyle Schwarber regardless, as they look to pare back payroll, but not knowing whether they’d have a DH option couldn’t have helped Schwarber’s case. It’s a similar story in Atlanta where Adam Duvall was cut loose after a 16-homer season. While Duvall is a solid defender in left field, the Braves are also uncertain of Ozuna’s status, which surely played into the Duvall decision to some extent.
Even if the league and the union formally agree to table the universal DH for the 2021 campaign, it’ll again be a heavily discussed piece of next offseason’s looming collective bargaining talks. The current collective bargaining agreement is slated to expire in Dec. 2021.
It seems ridiculous they let the DH happen in the NL in 2020 then free agency begins and MLB and MLBPA can’t reach a DH agreement for the next year…
It all has to do with negotiating leverage. The league knows it’s coming but wants something back from the players. The owners are suing their insurers over their claimed losses and the MLBPA will probably join that suit. Imagine the two being on the same side. If the league gets insurance money, the players will want their share as I assume last year’s COVID agreement included insurance recoveries. The league desperately wants to increase the rounds of the playoffs and giving the players association the universal DH + more money retroactively on last year’s contracts seems like the compromise. The hard parts will be collecting from the insurers and then how to divide the recovery. The league claims the policies they bought were “all risk” but even the broadest policy still had limitations and exclusions. Should be interesting.
The league wants the DH too, and the MLBPA know that. They would be stupid to give up anything in exchange for the universal DH when they know that the league wants it anyways.
The league wants offense but they also pay the piper when comparing DH players to reserves so the league wouldn’t mind waiting until next year or beyond if the players look only at themselves. It’s actually in the players’ interests for there to be more playoffs and more DH players.
This is dumb, that’s all. Just make it equal already and be done with it, you’re taking money out of DH’s pockets.
Right, let’s abolish the DH in both leagues.
Give it up.
Love the tag, McGriff was my favorite, right up their with Fernandez back in the day….devastated when they were dealt, thankfully that Alomar/Carter thing worked out
If McGriff can’t be in the HOF, can we at least elect his mustache?!
493 career HR without a late career surge like many of his era.
McGriff was my first favourite player, biased here.
He deserves to be in with or without his stache. Simply the most underrated player of his generation. I have a list of those in my view deserve to be in the hall that includes in addition to McGriff, Evans, Tiant, Munson and Schilling.
I like it.
Schilling will probably make it this time.
McGriff got the late surge but now needs help from the Eras Committee.
I’m stuck reading about the game prior to the ‘Today’s Game Committee’ era. Evans, Tiant, and Munson all seem like great candidates.
The Today’s Game Committee consider candidates whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from 1988 to the present. Beginning in 2016, it will hold elections twice every five years at MLB’s Winter Meetings.
The Modern Baseball Committee covers candidates whose greatest contributions to the game were realized between 1970 and 1987. Beginning in 2017, it will hold elections twice every five years at MLB’s Winter Meetings.
2016 none.
2017 John Schuerholz and Bud Selig.
2018 Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
2019 Lee Smith and Harold Baines.
2020 Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller
Modern Baseball Committee probably meets next, 2021 or 2022.
Today’s Game Committee 2022 or 2023.
McGriff has to be a top candidate for his era.
I’ve seen Lofton mentioned here.
Some names I could see considered depending who gets a surge next 2 years and who gets to be on these committees…. Schilling, Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Delgado, Palmeiro, Bernie Williams for ‘Today’ era.
Some of the guys seem blacklisted but did get jobs in the game.
The writers could keep Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire out but McGriff may still have to compete with these guys for votes in a different way.
Not seeing them play, just looking at previous votes, Dave Parker, Dale Murphy, Concepcion, Garvey, Hershiser, Guidry competition for Munson, Evans in ‘Modern’ era?
Some overlap makes me wonder which group votes Mattingly? Kaat? Oliva? Dick Allen? Tiant? Tommy John? The Pioneers?
My tops that I watched, off ballot right now, would be McGriff, Delgado, Bernie.
If I’m AA, I still sign Ozuna. His importance to the team hitting behind Freeman outweighs any defensive shortcomings. Plus, with Pache playing next to him and being able to cover so much ground, you can hide some of his inefficiencies a little bit. No Ozuna means the offense takes a major step back.
Question is, are you so sure he’ll hit that well if he has to play defense too? I’d guess not. In fact I’d put a fair amount of money on it.
Actually, the evidence suggests that hitters do worse when DHing. That suggests that Ozuna playing the field regularly would help his offense, not hurt.
In the macro, players do worse. Individually, some do better. Ozuna may be one of those who does better.
Look at his 2020 stats. He hit an insane .400 while DH and .275 in less AB as mostly LF. Granted, short sample in a weird contract year for him, but the very interesting stark difference.
Some players hit better as a full-time DH: Dave Kingman is the best example that comes to mind There have been several players who were not good defenders but could not hit as a DH. Maggio Ordonez is the best example I can think of.
Last year, he signed Ozuna before NL had DH for 2020.
Not sure if he made that move taking a risk with inside information that it was coming, but that’d be awfully bold, if so.
Ozuna’s defense was worse lat year than when he was in St. Louis. I think AA expected him to be passable. The Braves got lucky there was a DH.
As much as I’d like someone in that slot behind Freeman producing like Ozuna did last year, there is no guarantee to think that the 2021 version of Ozuna will produce as well as the 2020 version. Factor in the added money Ozuna is sure to demand and his poor defense and I am not sure I want it to happen.
Agreed southi. I see him going to an American League club perhaps Toronto.
Why would Toronto want Ozuna. He doesn’t improve their defence and only adds to the logjam of corner OF/DH.
Jays have enough bad defenders they do not need another in Ozuna. Although I was told Ozuna is a decent defender. He is not.
Gold Glover! :p
Since losing Donaldson, the team has lacked that professional hitter the young guys can learn from. Just my take.
Strong take.
Edwin and Bautista also had pretty good hitting approaches.
Tulo most times. Martin.
That group was a pretty tough lineup for most staffs to face.
Then almost directly to a strong focus on hitting coaches and young batters.
Biggio stands out from the current crop.
Bichette, Gurriel, Teoscar all streaky but able to really catch fire.
Vlad showed flashes where he wasn’t striking out or grounding out as much. Excited to see his next step.
No obvious fit, but I’d still make room for Brantley somewhere in this lineup. There will be injuries. He’d be the perfect fit to this core in my mind.
I doubt he’ll produce as good but he’s still a producer behind Freeman. We’ve seen what this offense can do with no one behind Freddie and it’s not pretty.
I also don’t think he’ll make that much more to be honest and that’s because of his defense. I think 18 mil/yr over 3 or 4 yrs gets it done.
I don’t believe the lack of a Universal DH will change Atlanta’s thinking about Ozuna. Its absence just made Duvall potentially redundant and prompted his non-tender.
And while I generally like AA, I’m still not sure I like his decision to non-tender Duvall with the 2020 that Duvall had–DH or no DH.
Duvall is one of the streakiest players in the game when it comes to hitting. There is a big difference between gambling on that streakiness when it’s 3 million you betting Duvall was project to make 6-7 million next year much bigger gamble for such a hit or miss player
@agentx
If you go by Duvall’s 2020 numbers then that explains why the nontender him. He had 16 hrs. 8 came in an 8 day stretch and 6 of those were in 2 games. Other then that he didn’t do much offensively. So I personally think it was a smart move although I am not against getting him back cheaper.
I just don’t know about offering a 3 to 4 year deal to Ozuna with his Defensive limitations. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Braves pass on Ozuna and if they cant financially bring in Springer (due to needing money to resign Freddie Freeman) I would go after David Dahl on a 1 year Prove You Are Healthy Deal and Offset that with giving Joc Pederson 3 year $21 Million.
I Like That
@Braves4Life1
The problem with adding Dahl and Pederson both is that they are both bat left handed. So that defeats the purpose of adding both of them. Now if you said bring Duvall back cheaper and Dahl on a 1 year prove it deal that would make sense. They can then platoon until Dahl shows he can handle the everyday load.
Unfortunately though none of the 3 would slot in to protect Freeman. So they are still without that bat.
Boo-urns.
With the COVID issue unresolved and possible continuation of last year’s division formats I feel the dh will be retained again this coming year
Whew! It seems we will have at least one last season of real, traditional baseball.
In one league…
It’s been like that..in one league..for decades.
yeah, in the american league
The DH is garbage. It’s training wheels for the American League. That’s why the AL is the junior circuit and the NL is the senior circuit. The AL never really grew into full adult baseball.
The owners need to give something if they want to get something.
I’m not sure the owners need to give anything. It’s the players who are shooting themselves in the foot here but throwing away 15 job openings. If you’re a fulltime DH in free agency you now lost numerous potential landing spots.
But they just opened up 15 jobs for utility players!!
Now that’s an epic fail
Clear as mud and as transparent as Manfred.
Regardless of if you like the UDH or not, Manfred is an awful commissioner.
Like the other leagues, printing money is the number one way to define a good or bad commissioner. Until COVID, he was great at increasing the value of each club.
Exactly. If you don’t like the commissioner you really dislike the owners, because he is their creature. When his mouth opens their voice comes out.
+1
Nelson Cruz just said oh shiet!
Bad decision.
You’d think it’d be a win win for the league and union.
League gets more offense which always excites viewers
Union creates new jobs for players.
Not sure why they can’t figure this out.
Same number of players employed, simply in DIFFERENT jobs not newly created ones.
Not really worth arguing over word choice and semantics.
NL getting DH creates opportunities for veterans to receive camp invites from NL teams who normally wouldn’t cause they might be limited to OF/1B and don’t have the versatility teams are looking for now a days.
Not entierly true. A guy like Marcell Ozuna’s market would then expand a decent amount because he can then market himself to all 30 clubs easier. It can also extend the career of a player. Definitley would have helped a guy like Adam Lind a few years ago. Still shocked he never got a shot after his outstanding 2017 season.
I beg to differ on your assessment.
Hurts the Mets but as long as they get pitching they should be fine.
It does. The Mets as currently constructed have a lot solid hitters and mediocre fielders. Not only that, but they have a lot of redundancy. It’s a lot harder to play Alonso and Smith all the time without a DH.
That being said, I fully expect the Mets roster to look completely different in a few months, and I think it would make sense to trade some MLB-ready pieces. They have a lot to work with.
So while I agree that no DH hurts the Mets, I do think they have a plethora of money and trade chips to make their team even better.
They aren’t getting rid of smith or Alonso so it will be smith LF and Alonso at 1B
What they do with Davis 3B? NimmoCF? Rosario? Is the question for 2021
I think they just have a year with bad OF defense and go smith Nimmo conforto
I think Davis and Rosario are the biggest question marks
Smith made some strides in the OF, but at the end of the day he’s a 1B. Alonso is never going to be good with the glove, but his homerun potential is too valuable waste on the bench. So I think you’re right. You have to go Alonso at 1B and Smith in LF, although that’s not ideal.
Trading Nimmo can solve your infield problems. If the Mets sign Springer (big if), they can afford to use a combination of Nimmo and Rosario or Davis as major trade chips. Lindor is not out of the question at all.
Yeah. I could see Nimmo traded. I think the Mets would deal with smith bad defense at LF for a year so the keep him next year to DH Alonso and let him at 1st. Instead of just trading him. Cohen said he wants long term success not just one year. So they are looking at smith long term imo.
Agreed. I think Smith showed the Mets a lot last year. They’re not going to trade him away.
Agreed, Smith is a future star… he showed it in limited AB in 2019 and followed it up in 2020… turning into what they hoped he would be when he was a top prospect
It hurts 15 teams
MLB and its owners are the a pathetic group. Obviously letting this leak through management kiss up Rosenthal was an attempt to scare the players into saying ok to MLB demands. As much as I despise watching pitchers bat, I hope mlbpa calls their bluff and says ok, no dh, no expanded playoffs.
They should OK the expanded playoffs with the provision that the players get 50% of the proceeds.
The expanded playoffs is a difficult thing. Sure, it opens up more opportunities for players to make a World Series run, but the flip side is that owners will have even less of an incentive to spend. Why spend that extra $25 million to be a 90 win team when I can save that, be an 85 win team and still make the playoffs? I’m not totally against expanding the playoffs, but they have to find a way to give incentive to win the division with something like a bye-round.
Braves should re-sign Oxuna. If there’s no DH, play him until the 7th inning or four at-bats and then put in a defensive replacement.
Both sides are using the DH as a bargaining chip, neither wants to offer much at this stage. It’s always been doubtful for this year in my mind. since both sides want it. Could still happen I suppose but I wouldn’t count on it.
Although a vaccine is coming. It’s not a cure all. A great many people may refuse to take it and how do you ID those that haven’t? Issue shot records to those that do. Lots to discuss and no easy answers.
I heard something about a mark on the hand or forehead to indicate that you’ve had the vaccine. 😉
Fans want it, players want it, baseball wants it… so of course it makes logical sense to not adopt it and use as a negotiation ploy for the next CBA.
Hardly all fans want it. From the debates here I’d say fans are about evenly divided. You are probably right about the other two, though, and they are the only ones who really matter. Nobody is asking us, that’s for sure.
Is it confirmed that the majority of fans and players want it? I mean I assume so, but is there evidence of that anywhere? Not trying to be snarky. I’m genuinely curious,
My point is it doesn’t matter one way or another. The fans are not being asked and won’t be asked how they feel about any of these changes to the game. We’re just dollars to them. This is why I laugh whenever I hear fans say they hate the commissioner, as if he is supposed be on their side, or some such thing. A serious case of not getting it.
I would bet more fans want it than not, but I’m guessing they’ve done surveys or focus groups… wonder if we can find that data
I’m a fan, and I don’t want it! Unfortunately MLB hasn’t asked me for my opinion.
The union and MLBPA should have already had this discussion a month ago but they are only just now “preparing to ramp things up.”
That was my exact take!!!
Not sure what you mean since the MLBPA is the union.
The DH is good for the game. Good for players, good for teams, good for fans, it makes the sport better. Every NL fan I know instantly fell in love with it. Because the truth is there is actually LESS strategy with a pitcher hitting. It’s a pretty simple formula when a pitcher comes up to the plate, and it weakens the game.
This is a bad move for 2021 not to have it. It’s inevitable, like the death of theaters. Time to move on and make the world a better place!
Weakens the game offensively but I wouldn’t say the game itself. It does put NL teams at a slight disadvantage during interleague away contests. I do agree that they should’ve implemented the DH for 2021 instead of going back and forth.
Did you just say the AL is weaker offensively than the NL? Historically that is inaccurate.
No part of his comment said the AL is weaker than NL. Awful assumption on your part. He said the NL is at a disadvantage and he’d be correct. NL teams focus on utility pinch hitters or pinch runners rather than grabbing a big bat they cannot start due to no DH. How difficult is that to figure out for you Marty?
How does it weaken the game offensively to have a pitcher replaced by a professional hitter?
It doesn’t weaken it, just doesn’t strengthen it nearly as much as most believe. To understand the true impact of the DH you have to start with the number of ABs pitchers take in an average NL game. You can then do a quick back of the envelope calculation about how much you’d expect the DH to impact offense and you will come up with an answer in the low single digits. Then you can truth that out by comparing league stats and find that it’s actually true. The game has been altered for very little actual difference.
That sir is a rebuttable assumption.
@WiffleBall I’m an NL fan who did not fall in love with the DH and I hated seeing 10-7 slugfest every week. So I got to take that away from your very first statement. Also the strategy doesn’t come when the pitchers hitting. The strategy comes to play with bullpen/pinch hitter usage. Starters can just hurl until they’re tired in DH games. Without the DH, you really need that bullpen when pitchers get pulled for a pinch hitter.
That being said, while I dislike the DH, and I feel it dumbs down the game in favor of excitement, I was willing to accept the change as it seems to the majority of the game embraced it. Seems odd that they’d take a step back after embracing it last year, but then again, there weren’t true NL/AL leagues last year in the scheduling sense.
Agree the DH makes game even LONGER more foul balls more TJ surgeries
They perform TJ surgeries during the games now??!!??
You bet. During the 7th inning stretch. Every time we sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” somebody goes under the knife.
And in tribute to Harry Carry, they have a different guest surgeon performing the procedure each time…
i can guarantee you most NL fans really dont care for the DH at best, and at worst hate it.
Do the pitchers want to hit? No
Do the managers want their pitchers hitting? No
Do the owners want their pitchers hitting and running the bases? NO
Do the fans want to see pitchers strike out 3-4 times a game? 50% of the NL fans love it. I love the DH, please make the DH permanent asap.
if guys like Lorenzen, Greinke, and MadBum dont want to hit and dont really need to to keep their jobs then why do they make an attempt to be good at it?
This is a precursor to the labor strife that will occur before the 2022 season.. Be ready for a long work stoppage
If you can make the decision to tell teams to operate under the assumption that there won’t be a universal DH, why not just formally announce that there won’t be one?
Manfred tomorrow: “Changed my mind lmao”
Lol
Whatever rules return for 2021, do not, for whatever reason, bring back the starting a runner on 2B in extra innings rule.
No. Earn your spot a second base. No placement of any runner at 2nd in any inning.
Exactly(?) I said do not, for whatever reason, bring it back.
Yes exactly.
Ok, the way you worded it made it sound like you thought I was for it.
Or the 7 inning double header lol
7 inning double headers were probably only for this year because of ovbisous circumstances. They probably won’t be back unless a good chunk of the MLB is hit with an outbreak.
Then end the game as a tie after 12 innings
Why? Why should MLB change the complete fundamentals of baseball? From 2011 to 2016, less than 1% of games reached the 13th inning. That’s 109 total games. Why change a complete fundamental part of baseball for less than 1% of all games when A, it’s not going to attract more fans and B, will only drive off some No fan has ever said “Well now that there are no 13+ inning games in baseball, I can watch the sport”.
Sure, universal DH. 28-man rosters? Why not. But let’s give a little to the pitchers for once; raise the mound to 15 inches like it was before 1969. Pitchings continue to get the short end of the stick and it’s time to counter the arm injuries and high scoring in some capacity.
As much as I’d like to believe it, I’m sure there WILL be a DH in the NL in ‘21, unfortunately.
Pitchers put up -19 wRC+ in 2019 they should never hit again
“The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Major League Baseball sent a memo to clubs just last week telling them to operate under the assumption that there will not be a universal DH in 2021.”
Rosenthal, and others, need to up their game: This should have been news LAST week!
Imagine both sides didn’t spend every minute pushing their own agendas…and just did what’s best for the game!
#firemanfred.
I approve this message! The guy is turning MLB into a joke.
#firemarshallbill
It’s not only the DH, but the Rule 5 draft is this week and teams don’t even know the size of their rosters.
The rosters are still 40.
best baseball news in a long time
Nothing like letting the decision drag thru free agency.
The DH should be used in every AL game,home & road. It’s eventually going to be universal.
Keep some difference between the leagues. I support no universal DH. Now they need to completely can the other rules about 7 inning double headers and a man on 2nd in extra innings. MLB should not be trying to change it’s fundamentals to appease low attention span viewers.
They need to focus on retention rates rather than just viewer age. For one, they need to make the game more exciting without changing its fundaments like you said. No one has ever said “now that there are fewer 18 inning games, I can watch baseball”. Less than 1% of games from 2011 to 2016 made it to the 13th innings and only 20 made it to the 15th. Next, they need to promote the hell out of their players. Guys like Ronald Acuna Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Trevor Bauer and a handful of others are extremely exciting to watch. Trout might be pretty quiet and tame for being the best player in the league, but still. Bauer’s vlogs on his youtube channel are fantastic for MLB. Bat flips, watching home runs, etc shouldn’t be given welts on sides of players.
bingo. MLB has it all wrong. unless you make baseball into a completely different sport rule changes wolnt do anything. are more young people watching AL then NL? no. are people not watching regular length games because some are long? no. they need to focus on impactful changes that actually get fans interested. as you said, dont stifle the fun stuff. I like new changes like players weekend and such, but maybe take it a step further.
I agree with both of you guys. MLB needs to promote the game and players better. But even in conversations I have had with people, the common theme is “the games are too long and boring”. Of course those are people who don’t understand the strategies of every pitch, the batter stepping out, etc. They want to be entertained without having to think about it. Baseball isn’t that type of game.
Do whatever you can to promote the game. Don’t change it’s purity.
Especially with major changes to just how the game works like extra innings. Have you ever talked to anyone who said they’d be more interested in baseball if there were fewer extra inning games? Have you ever talked to an actual fan who said that the extra inning rules were fun? The vast majority of fans do not want anything like that and little to no new fans will watch baseball because of it.
This is true, but I really blame sportscasting for making the game less welcoming to new fans. The sportscasters are the window on the game for most people, and what they do has really gone down hill. The style today is nonstop analysis often loaded with stats and jock lingo that sounds like Swahili to anyone who tunes in without having the knowledge already. I don’t know what MLB can do to counteract this trend but I sure do miss the days when sportscasters actually explained the game and were into the drama and the beauty of it instead to trying to predict which pitch will be thrown next. So much more important than how long the games run.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with you blueskies. Gone are the days of Vin Scully and Harry Caray. I don’t like the former player turned broadcaster model. I watch a lot of tennis in the off season and I turn the volume down to avoid hearing the former player analyzing every swing of the racquet. That’s just me though. It may not bother most people.
For the most part jocks don’t make great sportscasters, with some exceptions. I grew up listening to Ralph Kiner (later Vin Scully). Don Drysdale was also good in the booth, but he didn’t live to do it for long. I learned about the game through their play by play. I don’t know how anyone can get that introduction to it now, with the firehose of technobabble sportscasting has become. Apparently it doesn’t bother most people but I ride the mute button even when listening to my hometown broadcasters. They talk too much about nothing.
The games are too long because the sport has become an offensively-driven sport. Little to nothing has been done to help the pitcher in any capacity.
Some in this thread have discussed the broadcasting. Broadcasts are better when games are low scoring and tight. Have an 11-8 ballgame and you’ll get a boring broadcast with extra filler needed from the broadcaster.
Purity has been over and done with. 50 years of changes to rules will do that.
MLB Wants more action in the games, but shorten the games length. They contradict each other. Most of the time, a six run inning is going to be longer than a two run inning. Manfred needs to choose one or the other. Not both.
Guests – You prove my point, which is games are not too long. People, like yourself, who think they are have short attention spans. You are the type of “fan” that Manfred is trying to appease while losing the fans who appreciate the purity of the sport. 50 years of changes have not included things that change the foundation of the sport, like starting extra innings with a man on 2nd. That’s little league nonsense.
Sorry Prov, you have no clue.
I’m for the game to stop catering to the hitter and start protecting and helping the pitcher – the guy that holds the baseball more than any hitter. My point, which you missed like most Chris Davis swings,is games tend to be longer because of higher scoring. Higher scoring isn’t working with fans, and baseball loses fans. Yet offense continues to grow. Clearly higher scoring isn’t necessarily exciting.
Also, you said 50 years of change has not included things that changed the foundation of the sport. That’s incorrect, since you pointed it out. If you’ve read previous comments you’d see I think a runner on 2nd in extras is ridiculous.
Please try not to put words in my mouth. In the last person to appease fans as I would bring back crashes at home plate, hard slides at 2nd and 3rd base, put the mound at 15 inches high and take all arm guards off hitters. Your comment is baseless and off the mark.
In reading your comments, you think everyone is clueless other than you. It must be tough for you to be the only person on here who thinks he is the only one who knows baseball.
Since you didn’t cite an example I’d say you didn’t properly read anything. Did I somehow offend you in any way in the past and you are still bitter about it? I will apologize if I did, because your comments could not be further off the mark.
“Keep some difference between the leagues. ” OK. Then eliminate interleague play. That’ll make your argument valid AND make the All Star game and World Series more interesting (like it used to be).
MLB probably plans to have a “regular” 162 game season for AL/NL and will only allow for the universal DH again if uncertainty rises again due to Covid.
Well, this sucks.
heck yeah
I like the NL not having the DH. It’s the one thing that designated the two leagues (pun intended) and adds an element to the game.
agreed. as a NL fan I’d prefer the AL get rid of it over the NL add it, but I like the difference. few sports have that and its a nice quirk that few seem to truely appreciate.
The universal DH should be implemented in 2021 because pitchers can’t hit. Pitchers had a -18 wRC+ and a .144 wOBA in 2019.
Which impacts the game virtually not at all for reasons that are almost too obvious to mention. You could look it up.
For a sport that’s been bleeding fans for the last decade, I don’t see how a universal DH does anything but continue to decrease interest. Between all the other rule changes and the inherent dumbing down of the sport in general, the universal DH is just going to accelerate fan exodus. Everybody that likes the DH has a choice of 15 teams they can root for and everybody that doesn’t soon won’t.
Just another reason Manfred is the worst commissioner ever and baseball is dying. Go ahead and operate like it won’t happen but we won’t give a firm no. JOKE,JOKE,JOKE
Good. Now get rid of it in the AL, too.
I feel if there is no universal DH, then there should be no games between NL and AL team during the regular season because teams would not be on equal grounds. MLB should be united all the way for the good of the games and pitchers would not suffer stupid injuries and may be around longer.
You’re not wrong, but by that logic you can say the World Series doesn’t matter because it’s unbalanced.
As a Braves (and NL) fan, I really don’t like the DH (even though it helped my team this year). I can live with the DH, but, for goodness sake, please don’t keep all of these other crackpot changes (7 inning double headers, runners on 2nd to start extra innings, etc). Having a DH is still baseball (whether I prefer it or not. The other stuff is just asinine and should never see the light of day ever again in MLB (or MiLB for that matter). Please MLB, let them play baseball….not COVID ball in 2021!
I agree with you but Lets keep the 3 batter rule. It was the best rule of the bunch
Here we go again…
The MLB is such a dumpster fire.
This DH or No DH that’s getting everyone fired up is a smokescreen. There are bigger issues on the table that could lead to a long work stoppage. The season is too long. No teams want home games during April and May or National holidays. The season should be 20-30 games shorter with expanded playoffs.
Sloppily done.
MLB and Union will drag this out like they drag everything out to torture their fans as much as possible.
I am 100% positive the DH will be back in 2021 still and will get worked out sometime Early to mid January. The final agreement will be to move Spring training to April and Opening day to late April to early May. games will be reduced to around 140-144 next season. Union will get the DH, 100% prorated salaries, their fair share of expanded playoff revenue and etc. Owners get their way for not having games in April which will be a major savings for the owners and will get the expanded playoffs revenue to help make up for some of the lower fan base in 2021.
I’ve always been opposed to the DH from a strategy standpoint having grown up following a NL team. Yet, I’ve also long said that it’s a disadvantage to the NL in intraleague play and the WS because they aren’t investing in a middle of the order bat as a DH.
Having it in both leagues last year changed my opinion. Bring it on. Yes, it’s easier to manage with the DH, which is why I didn’t want it. It’s not just about getting a better hitter in the lineup, but it also decreases the odds of removing a pitcher that is doing well just to PH for. I guess I’ve landed on I want the rules to favor allowing the best at their craft to play as much as possible.
Not having this decision made already is pathetic regardless of where they land.
I used to be against the DH in the NL since I have been a Cubs fans my whole life, BUT after seeing it in the NL last season actually changed my mind and now down with the DH.
It just did not bother me at all and did not really think it made any type of negitive impact to the game at all, I did not find myself missing the pitcher batting and the strategy around it or even thought about it much when watching games.
Why not just eliminate interleague play? As a Braves fan I don’t care if I see Tampa Bay come to town. Guys change teams, we have streaming baseball packages where we can literally watch any team… It’s not as if IL play will be our only chance to ever see Mike Trout.
Likely one more year of traditional Baseball in the NL with the DH coming in the CBA for 2022.
BOOOOO
new era of baseball requires DH in NL
Players association want the dh. Owners want the dh. Both sides think they have the leverage. Odds seem high both are going to refuse on principal thinking their position is too good when in reality it is about as equal as anything i have seen them try to make a deal on in several decades.
I would be the first person to tell you that I had always been heavily against the DH in the NL (hell in the AL also) but i’ve had a complete 180 degree turn around after 2020. I don’t think I can go back to watching pitchers flail around up there. After experiencing it on my favorite team having a guaranteed out in the line up is no longer acceptable. Yes the DH is a bit of a weird rule and the fact that it ever got in has always been crazy to me but never the less it’s here, it’s been in the AL for awhile and it’s time to take away the advantage the American League has had for decades. They have the advantage in the off season and much more roster options. The advantages are that it helps draw in free agents as it’s one more spot available. It really helps health wise as slightly injured players who are big offensive weapons can still contribute without having to play the field. It helps keep the momentum going to turn the line up over. Then it also gives freedom to rest your stars without losing their bats. It also is an advantage when it comes to pitching and managing pitchers. Because you don’t have to pinch hit for them they can stay in longer.
Needless to say I think most would agree it will happen someday. Whether it be this year, next year or in 10 years so might as well make and keep the change now.
And dammit let’s keep it this year so my Braves can pay and keep Ozuna to make sure teams pitch to Freddie Freeman “aka MVFree”
Now that being said the other new temp rules from 2020 have got to go! That runner on 2nd in extra innings is a joke! Why mess with a good thing? Baseball is the ONLY sport with a perfect overtime system. In all the other sports time is a factor and thus ties or a possibility Baseball doesn’t use clocks and each team gets the same opportunities so you know in baseball when a team wins, they win. The 7 inning Double header also needs to go though they’re normally so rare it wont matter much.