An Associated Press poll this week showed that fans do not like the split designated hitter rule, where the DH is used in American League parks while the pitchers must hit for themselves in National League parks. The fans would prefer an all or nothing DH rule, but they were fairly split on which approach Major League Baseball should take.
I personally would prefer that the DH be used in all World Series games, regardless of whether they are played in AL or NL parks. I think it gives an unfair advantage to NL teams. An AL lineup is built around having a DH. Case in point: Hideki Matsui hitting 5th or 6th in the Yankee lineup. Now, he may have to sit on the bench for three games straight in Philadelphia, waiting for a chance to pinch hit once each game. Unless Joe Girardi risks Matsui blowing up his knees and puts him in the outfield.
Everytime I think about AL pitchers having to hit, I think about Chien-Ming Wang getting hurt in that game against Houston last year. He's never really come back from that injury and it only happened because he was running the bases. It's a shame when anyone, including someone who had Ace starter potential, gets hurt for doing something he shouldn't have had to do in the first place.
Thanks to Keith Allison for the photo.
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