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The Designated Hitter rule is a joke. It should be banned forever. Abner Doubleday is probably turning over in his grave.

The AL took a successful game and changed it in 1973. Much like Coca-Cola changed their formula in 1985. The difference is that Coke drinkers were smart enough to know a good thing when they have it, the AL fans weren't. The AL is now playing artificial baseball. I know AL fans may be saying that they have dominated the All-Star games and have won several World Series titles. That's true, but that doesn't change the fact that the AL is not playing real baseball. The next thing the AL will do is legalize aluminum bats.

The DH has taken most of the strategy out of AL baseball. The AL managers no longer have to decide if they want to try and keep a pitcher in the game or pinch hit for him. All the AL managers have to do is pick the starting lineup, add a pitcher and a DH and let the pitcher pitch until he gets tired. My mom could manage in the AL. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but not by much. It takes much less to manage in the AL than in the NL.

In the NL a manager has to constantly be looking ahead. How is the pitcher doing?
Should I pinch hit for him in the next inning? What if he can't finish the inning? Do I just replace the pitcher or do I bring in another player as well and flip-flop the batting order? If I just bring in a pitcher do I let him hit and stay in the game or do I use a pinch hitter? If I use a pinch hitter, he gets on base and we extend the inning by another 2-3 batters do I keep that pinch hitter in the line-up and put the pitcher into the place that made the last out? Or do I just put that pitcher back in his original place in the batting order? How many players will I be using if I just put the pitcher in and then pinch hit? If I decide to flip flop with the pitcher and another player who do I choose? Do I take out a good defensive player or good offensive player? Do I take out a player with speed or power? The same questions may be asked about who he puts in. Does he use a good defensive player or a good offensive player? A player with speed or power? When the pitcher is batting, should I have him bunt and move the runner along or let him swing away?

The knowledgeable fans are also sitting in the stands analyzing these moves and curiously watching to see what the manger does. You can't beat NL baseball! It's played the way baseball was meant to be played and the way it was actually played for nearly 100 years as it became known as "America's favorite pastime".

Learn more about this author, Art West.
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