Mar 29, 2010

wouldn't you want to play Commissioner of Baseball? Part II

Issue number Deux (#2 for those who could care less):  "Designated Hitter" or "No DH"! With no offense to Ron Bloomberg, I as the Commish have to decide what to do, oh what to do?  Keep the DH and have offensive onslaughts instead of 2-1 games decided by the "double switch" (is there a triple switch?) with the pitcher now batting in the clean-up position?  Have the batting order hole exploited w/batters #8 and #9?  Or would I want to have a line-up where there is no easy out and the #9 hitter could be someone with 15-20 hrs and 70 RBIs? (No, it is not RBI, it is RBIs!) What benefit does the game get with a pitcher coming to the plate, watch his opponent's knuckle-curve for pointers, and then parade back to the pines?  There are only 27 outs scheduled per team per game, so why give 1-2-3 away?  But on the other hand, how thrilling is to watch a masterful pitchers' gem, like Carmona v. Yankees in 2007?  Those at the Jake (will not call it the Prog) absolutely on the edge of each seat as each pitch becomes more and more important?  Yet, how does that compare to, oh let's see, a 12-something lead disappear into an extra inning win of say 15-14 (remember Omar in extra innings v. Seattle)?  You are not out of the game, (well some teams are not out of it), when a crooked number is placed on the scoreboard, and your team is up to bat? Remember Paul Sorrento and his homer in the last inning to overcome a 9-0 lead by the Blue Jays for the win?  Or how about Bob Gibson and Denny McClain in the '68 World Series going head to head, with neither giving an inch?  Damn it is a hard call, but I as Commish will give you edict Numero Dos, both leagues use the DH! Sorry Bobby Cox; Tony LaRussa; and others.  I for one do not like those gosh awful "double switches"!  They're gone and the DH lives on.  That's for you Ronny!!

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