There are many things that people find themselves interested in and passionate about. They commonly find themselves debating, and even arguing, about these things just to stand up for what they believe in and to hold their own.
Most of the people around me engage in political debates, spewing knowledge about different political parties, candidates and more. Yet, I find myself to be more engaged in arguments about sports, especially baseball. Baseball has always been an integral part of my life, and as an avid Major League Baseball fan, I hold many strong opinions about the game.
The Universal Designated Hitter Rule, also known as the Universal DH, is one of the most controversial aspects of the game that has been in the news recently. In 1972, the MLB decided that baseball was in decline due to fans showing less and less interest in the game.
Baseball is infamously known to be boring, and though I strongly disagree, many people do refuse to watch the game due to lack of runs being scored, and a lack of action in the game in general. To solve this problem, the American League introduced the Designated Hitter position.
A Designated Hitter that goes up to bat instead of the pitcher, but does not field. At the time, the American League did not believe it would last, yet, here we are almost 50 years later with the DH still being used in the American League today. Why has this fad been around for so long? Personally, I have no idea.
Today, baseball is going through another crisis, just like the one in 1972 where the MLB is concerned that fans, especially younger fans, are losing interest in the game. Many rules have been tweaked as well as added to speed up the game by Commissioner Rob Manfred, in hopes of making baseball once again appealing to younger audiences.
The mission is to combat the notion that baseball is dying. Most recently, Manfred has expressed his ongoing concerns and he has proposed a solution. His solution is to bring the Designated Hitter to the National League as well.
As a traditionalist, I cannot see how adding one more hitter into National League lineups will magically draw interest to the game. If someone doesn't have the patience to watch a pitcher up at bat, whether the outcome is good or bad, how can they watch a baseball game as a whole?
Any baseball fan can tell you that people either love or despise the DH, and there is no in between. Most people who love it are fans of an American League team. Those who despise it are typically fans of a National League team, or they just happen to be traditionalists who believe that pitchers deserve their turn in the lineup just like other players.
People argue that bringing the Designated Hitter to the National League would create more offense, which would make the game appealing, especially to a younger audience. They also argue that it would create uniformity between the two leagues. However, what they fail to realize is that if they believe the league should be uniform, the DH could be abolished altogether.
People also argue that the Designated Hitter position creates jobs and that eliminating pitchers batting would supposedly limit their risk of injury.
I hold a very unpopular opinion, especially among my age group, who encourage change in baseball and who do not understand that the DH takes away a vital part of the game. Having the pitcher in the batting order creates the need for managers to be more strategic, which in the end does make the game more interesting as a whole.
It's these little details that only baseball fanatics understand what makes the game so fascinating. Additionally, it is not like a Designated Hitter can be added to the National League overnight. National League teams would need to build their rosters around the extra position of a DH like the American League has done for years.
After all, baseball is America's favorite pastime, and it should not be changed.
