It's Official: Astros to AL for 2013

[Party]

It's official: http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/stor...happen-in-2013

Perpetual interleague play beginning in 2013. Nothing on the DH rule yet, but the new CBA hasn't been announced yet.

[jOOj]

If we go global DH, it makes signing Pujols and keeping Gaby a lot smrtrs.

[Mainge]

I really want an NL DH.

[Party]

Yeah, I think this is going to usher in the age of global DH.................sadly.

[Bobbob1313]

That's the worst.

Can't wait to see more teams use utility players as DH!

[Mainge]

It's the only place in all of baseball where the pitcher is forced to hit. Give me the DH.
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Then we can use it on Matt Dominguez when JJ is on the mound.

[Fritz]

Having the pitcher hit sucks. It's like forcing the punter to line up at RB and take a handoff once every quarter.

[Jay]

Having the pitcher bat is part of baseball.

[Miamarlin21]

I like the pitcher hitting.

[Mainge]

Having the pitcher bat is part of baseball.

Only in the NL (and in AAA if two NL affiliates play and agree on no DH, which is never). That's literally the last league in the US that doesn't allow a DH. From little league to minor league.

[Fritz]

Being a slave to tradition is going to murder baseball. Also, if tradition mattered we'd have segregated leagues and not have any types of training regimens for athletes. I don't see how improving the on-field product hurts the game.

[Party]

Being a slave to tradition is going to murder baseball. Also, if tradition mattered we'd have segregated leagues and not have any types of training regimens for athletes. I don't see how improving the on-field product hurts the game.

Apples and oranges.

[Fritz]

Regardless, how is improving the on-field product a bad thing?

When all players sucked at hitting way back when, it didn't matter because everyone pretty much sucked. Nowadays, the hitters are so good and the pitchers aren't that it's a waste of time. It's essentially a formality when a pitcher comes up to bat. There's nothing enjoyable or exciting about seeing a guy go up to the plate and not even try in 90% of game situations.

[Jay]

This is nothing like having segregated leagues; equality trumps it. This is a rule of how the game is played. The AL changed the rule in the 1970s to improve ratings because it was the inferior league. Training has nothing to do with how the game is played; it has to do with preparation for the game.

[Fritz]

My point was training and desegregation improved the product on the field. That's what adding the DH would do. Seeing professional hitters hit and not risking injuries to a pitcher make it worthwhile.

Sorry, I'd rather watch Papi's fat ass knock one out of the park than see Anibal Sanchez stand in the box and collect three strikes.