No, the designated hitter IS strategy. It enables a manager to change things around and throw the unexpected at a pitcher. By taking out that given weak batter in the No. 9 position, it changes the possibilities.
Yes, AL games are longer. But the alternative is reruns of stuff that was awful the first time.
Weatherman actually predicted 107* today. Out here in the woods we hit 101* yesterday. unpleasant.
mary
The designated hitter removes much of the strategy that makes baseball great. Remember, it was only started for the 1974 season as a way to try to generate more offense in a time when pitching was dominant. It was supposed to be an experiment, but it can never go away when it is extending the careers of so many who should have retired half a decade ago. I find that AL games take longer, which is strange with the double switch and pinch hitting all but eliminated, and without the mental aspects that go with having a weak bat in the 9 spot (generally), it's just not the same game, to me. Now, I've grown up in an NL town, so I'm biased, but when I play, I don't have a designated hitter. At lower levels of the sport, pitchers tend to be among the best hitters,because they are better all-around athletes.
Rules: Please play nicely with others.
