One of the better conversations to have in baseball is the discussion of the Designated Hitter rule. Whether you are for or against the DH, most people can agree it has its place. Some will argue it helps differentiate between the two divisions, adding a little something extra to the series. Others will say it hurts the game; it is not baseball in its purest form. And, there are those that push ...for the DH to become a part of both leagues.
I remember the Mets-Red Sox series of '86 when I was in bed, watching a small black and white while Mookie Wilson came to the plate with an improbable at bat. As Wilson sprinted and Buckner's glove folded I watched in amazement as the Mets came back and won the game and gained momentum to take the series in game seven. What would it be like if the DH would have been involved, would it have been different? Would Wilson bat as the DH and have the same result? If Wilson was the DH and came to bat, I don't think we lose that piece of history and we still have a great series. I can think back to the 1989 World Series between the Athletics and the Giants and watching the power of the A's dominate the series along with the use of the DH.
In the American league the pitchers just pitch, they have the ability to concentrate and let the hitters hit. There are no hiccups in the lineup. There is hardly a time when a fan is excited to see the pitcher come up with bases loaded and two outs. When was the last time, in a National League game, you couldn't wait to see the pitcher come up because they were on track for a hitting record?
The DH is a great conversation, but if there is a consideration for applying the DH to both leagues I think it's a great idea. Everyone acknowledges the game evolves every decade, and changes can help the game. In today's game hitters have become specialist in what they do; concentrating on average, home runs, or RBIs (with the exception of Miguel Cabrera's 2012 season).
Bringing the designated hitter to the National league would allow pitchers to pitch, giving them a chance to relax and concentrate in this evolved game of baseball. One could argue that the days of the purity of the game will be gone, I disagree. The purest form of baseball is derived from what is warranted: adaptation. Conforming to want is necessary is in the history of the game: the mound, fences, bats and soon the designated hitter.
