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There is platooning going on. There is a need for a bullpen nowadays.

However, there shouldn't be. When a pitcher is lifted for a pinch-hitter, that creates the need for a bullpen. And with so many pitchers spread out across so many rosters, there is actually a diluted pool of talent to pick from in the bullpen. This is creating the opposite effect in the NL. Instead of having good hitters coming of the bench or platooning. You are using sub par pitchers, who end up costing you runs and money. There really isn't any need to keep 7 or 8 pitchers, who aren't starting, and aren't closing on your bench. It's a waste of money. Especially since the best middle reliever can only give you 80 or 90 innings a year. That works out to ten games.

If the NL was to use a DH it would be money that is better spent. And, it would lead to a better balance between offense and defense.

'Wait,' you say, 'The AL uses a DH and there isn't a better balance between offense and defense.' That's because they are unfortunate enough to be picking from the same diluted talent pool as the NL when they are going to their bullpen. Once the NL adopts the DH rule, ALL OF BASEBALL will be better.

There is one other thing that has to be pointed out when we're talking about the DH rule. There are more leagues than just the AL or the NL. There is also the entire minor leagues, youth and amateur baseball, And also foreign and winter leagues. Over the last 35 years that this rule has been in effect there are only two leagues that have NOT adopted the DH rule as of yet. That is the National League of MLB, and the amateur ranks. It makes sense that the amateur ranks (i.e. Little League) don't use the DH because they would want to develop well-rounded athletes. To give them a chance to play every position. It makes no sense at all though, that the National League would insist on putting an inferior product on the field. It's time that the United States of America catches up with the Venezuelan Winter League, Central League in Japan, and there own minor league system. Put in a designated hitter.

Learn more about this author, James Mills.
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