In an interview with Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the National League will not adopt the designated hitter.
“The most likely result on the designated hitter for the foreseeable future is the status quo,” Manfred said. “I think the vast majority of clubs in the National League want to stay where they are.”
Manfred told Crasnick that he was merely discussing the pros and cons of a possible change and did not mean to create the impression that NL clubs want to adopt the DH. He created a firestorm last week when he said the following:
“Twenty years ago, when you talked to National League owners about the DH, you’d think you were talking some sort of heretical comment. But we have a newer group. There’s been turnover. And I think our owners in general have demonstrated a willingness to change the game in ways that we think would be good for the fans, always respecting the history and traditions of the sport.”
In an attempt to boost sagging run production during the post-steroids era, implementing the designated hitter in the National League has been often discussed as a possible solution.
Personally, I prefer the strategy that is inherent without the DH. I love the intricate complexities that the double-switches, pinch-hitters, bench management, and critical pitching decisions add to the overall tapestry of the game from an intellectual perspective. It’s part of what makes baseball such a cerebral game.
Luckily, logic and sanity prevailed here, and the Senior Circuit will continue to hold tight to a time honored tradition, at least for the foreseeable future.
The American League adopted the DH in 1973. With the advent of inter-league games and during the World Series, National League teams do adopt the DH when playing in American League parks. But for many baseball purists, that’s as close to league wide implementation as they ever want to get.
