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The designated hitter rule should immediately be banned from baseball for life.

The National League is the major league that is more fun to watch, mostly because it does not have a designated hitter. The use of the designated hitter eliminates much of the strategy associated with pinch hitting and making pitching changes. When you're trailing by two runs with two out and two on base in the bottom of the 5th inning do you hit for your star pitcher? Or do you keep him in? The American League manager doesn't have to make those choices.

Baseball is a game that rewards a complete ballplayer. When a field player is being chosen, his speed, defensive abilities, throwing arm, ability to hit for average, and ability to hit for power are all evaluated. Why should it be different for a pitcher? To be a complete ballplayer, even a pitcher, one should be expected to be able to defend your position and to help your team with the bat.

No one wants to see old heroes who should have retired long ago trying to prolong their career by becoming a designated hitter. When you are no longer mobile enough to even play first base, it's time to hang up the spikes. Heroes should be remembered for how they played the field, not for how they tried to hang on and pad their statistics with a few years of being a designated hitter.

Even worse, the designated hitter rule prevents high school and college players have having an opportunity to bat. It also deprives the designated hitter from having to improve his defense to get to play. Specialization at a young age hinders overall development. Everyone develops at their own pace, the designated hitter rule helps to prevent that development in both the hitter and the player being replaced by the designated hitter.

Baseball is a beautiful game. Its history, strategy, and lack of a clock all contribute to its beauty. Its one of the first games we all learned. Kids and teenagers should continue to learn all aspects of the game. Roll back the clock, eliminate the designated hitter, and make everything right with the world.

Besides, if it's a good idea, why not have offensive and defensive platoons?

Learn more about this author, Robin Ritzman.
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