DU Support for the DH Rule aka the

[madinmaryland]

Douche Hitter Rule...

[MrCoffee]

1. Crash Davis speaks for me

"I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter."

[El Supremo]

2. Groan!

We have this poll every year. The results aren't going to change with this crowd.

[Forkboy]

3. Nice option 4, Rasmussen.

:)

[madinmaryland]

4. Error. You can't vote in your own polls!

:rofl:

I can't rec it either.

[El Supremo]

5. Liar. I bet your vote for "America's Team" is the only one it gets.

[madinmaryland]

6. How did you get around the rule of being able to vote only once?

:wtf:

[El Supremo]

7. Apparently other peoples minds ARE achanging.

Or Bud Selig is really a genius.

:sarcasm:

[madinmaryland]

8. "Or Bud Selig is really a genius."

:wtf:

[El Supremo]

9. Sorry, I've now added the sarcasm smiley. n/m

[madinmaryland]

10. What is interesting is there is no one other than you posting about why

they support the DH.

[El Supremo]

11. The power of the secret ballot!

Many who feel they would be ridiculed have no fear in a secret poll.

I have no fear!

[eyepaddle]

55. Because it makes for superior play--that's why they support it.

Jeez, just look at how the AL dominates the NL in the postseason and the All Star game. For every challenging situation where a manager needs to fret about "the double switch" (which Tom Kelly famously derided as being "right up there with that rocket science stuff") there are two or three easy outs when the pitcher comes up to the plate.

Besides, let's be honest, the NL already has the DH--they just call them "left fielders."

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. It's simply not real baseball. You can argue all you want. It's not the way the game was intended

to be played.

If you wear a glove in the field, you must go to the plate with a bat. If you go to the plate with a bat, you must go into the field with a glove.

Is it so hard to understand?

[El Supremo]

13. Maybe in 1875.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/hitting-pitchers/

[caraher]

57. Interesting article...

that leads me to wonder: what would the game be like if all players in the field had to take a turn pitching? And if for historical reasons the game evolved that way, what would the debate sound like if some proposed having "designated pitchers?"

[flvegan]

14. Pitchers shouldn't bat.

Dumbest aspect of the sport.

[madinmaryland]

15. Why not?? Every other position player bats.

Dumbest rule ever!

[flvegan]

16. Why shouldn't a quarterback kick the field goals?

Why shouldn't a goalie play right wing, get that hat trick?

I think F1 and NASCAR drivers should change their own damn tires.

[El Supremo]

17. Thanks

Those are good analogies.

[madinmaryland]

19. Totally meaningless and inapt. nt

[flvegan]

21. Good self-description. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

31. LOL. I guess you've never heard of George Blanda or Doug Flutie. n/t

[madinmaryland]

33. Apparently way before their time. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. That reminds me of a neighbor's kid I used to know. He got a D in history, almost didn't graduate.

His excuse? "I wasn't born then, why should I care about that stuff?" Those were his exact words, and I'll never forget them.

[madinmaryland]

18. Funny, but I thought we were talking baseball.

BTW, I do remember a very proficient QB kicking field goals.

But, regardless of your uncomparable comments, why do you really think there should be a DH??

[flvegan]

20. It's called an analogy. Get a dictionary and look it up.

I see that you missed my original post about how pitchers shouldn't bat, as to your "why do you really think" question. Pitchers pitch. If you can't grasp that, I don't know how to help you do so.

[madinmaryland]

22. "Pitchers pitch". Quite right. Fielder's field. Apparently they should not bat

either. Please explain your logic. Thanks!

Your post said "Pitchers shouldn't bat" and that was it.

[flvegan]

23. So you're equating a right fielder with a pitcher?

As a specialty?

You're an idiot.

[madinmaryland]

24. You still have not explained why you think a pitcher should not hit.

[flvegan]

26. Like a quarterback, they train for another specialty to carry a team

for a good chunk of the game. Also, they carry enough of a risk of injury of in game play to not have to worry about getting hit in the hands by a 95 mph fastball. So, they sit up there flailing away and largely making a joke out of the at bat.

Can't believe I had to explain such an easy to grasp analogy to you. Pathetic.

[madinmaryland]

27. So, in essence, what you are saying is that baseball should become like

other sports, such as football, where "key" players are specialists and only do one thing.

If you look at the National League, which has no DH, there is an "MAD" rule that keeps pitchers from throwing at each other.

I find your analogies quite pathetic.

[flvegan]

28. I'm not even going to respond.

As stupid as what you said is on its own face, I'll just leave it at that.

[madinmaryland]

29. But you did.

All you can say to support yourself is call people stupid and idiots.

:shrug:

[flvegan]

34. I didn't respond to what you posted in regards to the question.

I worry you'd sit up all night, hoping for yet more conflict since you've lost a couple folks around here to reach around and stroke.

Call em like I see em. 99% of the time correct. This time, no different as has been proven here before about you.

Have a nice night.

[madinmaryland]

36. And you too, my friend.

I'm so happy you feel so good about yourself.

Goodnight!

[cherokeeprogressive]

30. Let me introduce you to a couple REAL football players: George Blanda... and Doug Flutie

"Against the Steelers, Blanda threw for three touchdowns in relief of an injured Daryle Lamonica. One week later, his 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining salvaged a 17-17 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs. Repeating the thrilling finish on November 8, Blanda once again came off the bench to throw for a touchdown pass to tie the Cleveland Browns with 1:34 remaining, then kicked a 53-yard field goal with 0:03 left for the 23-20 win. In the team's next game, Blanda replaced Lamonica in the fourth quarter and connected with Fred Biletnikoff on a touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the game to defeat the Denver Broncos, 24-19. The incredible streak concluded one week later when Blanda's 16-yard field goal in the closing seconds defeated the San Diego Chargers, 20-17.

The only successful drop kick in the last sixty-plus years in the NFL was by Doug Flutie, the backup quarterback of the New England Patriots, against the Miami Dolphins on January 1, 2006, for an extra point after a touchdown.

Flutie had estimated "an 80 percent chance" of making a drop kick,<5> and was called to give Flutie, 43 at the time, the opportunity to make an historic kick in his final NFL game. (In fact, the drop kick was his last play in the NFL.) After the game, New England coach Bill Belichick said, "I think Doug deserves it,"<6> and Flutie said "I just thanked him for the opportunity."

What next? A designated Queen in chess?

[flvegan]

32. Oh, the backups. Yeah.

Sacrificing them was okay. Flutie, with his Hail Mary pass early on, now in his last play.

[cherokeeprogressive]

35. Ask and you shall receive. You asked why Quarterbacks didn't kick field goals, and I gave you two

who did. George Blanda was a backup? WTF? Blanda is currently third in career points scored, ranking behind Morton Andersen and fellow placekicker Gary Anderson. It should be noted that this category doesn't count the many passing touchdowns that Blanda threw, only his kicks and his nine rushing touchdowns.

Doug Flutie didn't kick ass in the Canadian Football League? WTF? His career CFL statistics include 41,355 passing yards and 270 touchdowns. He holds the professional football record of 6,619 yards passing in a single season. He still holds four of the CFL's top five highest single-season completion marks, including a record 466 in 1991. His 48 touchdown passes in 1994 remains a CFL record. He earned three Grey Cup MVP awards, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player a record six times (1991–1994, and 1996–1997).

Flutie even acted as his own fucking HOLDER. Google "drop kick".

I have a couple minutes to spare... why don't you tell me EVERYTHING you know about professional football? A couple of minutes should be plenty of time.

[flvegan]

38. Your post

Blanda...in relief.

Flutie...in his last play.

Google "suck it"

[cherokeeprogressive]

39. Quarterbacks that kicked field goals.

'nuff said.

Baseball is a sport where players who wear gloves are expected to swing a bat, and players who swing a bat are expected to wear a glove. 'nuff said x2.

Denny McClain wins 31 games, and Bob Gibson has a 1.12 ERA. In the offseason coaches go WE NEED A WAAAMBULANCE and they lower the mound from 15 inches to 10. That doesn't stop pitching dominance, and coaches go WAAAAAH, WE NEED A WAAAMBULANCE and voila... the american league institutes the designated hitter rule.

A complete dumbing down of the game, a release for managers who needed to figure strategy around their pitchers, and all of it screamed for by rich team owners who actually own the game and therefore the rules.

Good thinkin'.

Team owners own the rules. Gosh, where have I seen THAT policy instituted in my 48+ years?

[Jack Rabbit]

46. You could have also mentioned Paul Hornung

The Packers converted the Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame to a running back in the pros, but he remained a back up QB behind Bart Starr.

The offensive weapon the Packers had in Hornung is that the defense never knew what he was going to do when given the ball. Of course, he'd usually run with it, but there was always the possibility he'd throw a pass.

He would lead the NFL in scoring because he'd score the touchdown, kick the PAT and kick the field goals.

[madinmaryland]

47. Hmmm. Wonder if the Bronco's will do the same thing with Tim Tebow.

I don't know if he can kick PAT's though.

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. I played baseball with a kid who batted over .400 in high school as a catcher.

He put baseballs on the roofs of houses outside the left field fence of my high school, over 400 feet from the plate. He was drafted straight out of HS by the Detroit Tigers. We had a huge going away party for him...

He played for a couple of AA teams, then was called up to AAA in his third year. In his fourth year, he was called up to the Minnesota Twins and went 7-0 as a pitcher after the All-Star break. The following year he got called up after the break and went 8-1. After the DH rule. His name is Mark Portugal and he's been out of the game for a while now, but in his best year he finished FOURTH in Cy Young balloting after going 18-4.

We used to laugh so hard we'd fall out of our chairs watching the #8 batter get walked so he'd have to come to the plate when he played with the Astros. After having the bat taken out of his hands for so long, he forgot how to swing it.

IF he had been drafted by a NL team, he'd have been setting records for pitchers at the plate. I believe that with every bone in my body, having played ball with him since were were in Little Leage.

The American League manufactures pitchers who can't hit.

Steve Carlton could hit. I'll bet you've never heard of him though.

[era veteran]

25. No D/H, no strikes, no aluminum bats for Little League

The best trade ever was Lee May for Joe Morgan & the sons of bitches charge too much for a day at the park.

[Jack Rabbit]

41. Real baseball teams don't use the DH and real fans don't like it; it is for quiche eaters

The DH is there to placate the kind of unsophisticated, quiche-eating fan who mistakes high scoring for excitement. There are such fans in every sport, and placating them has not only ruined American League baseball but the NBA, when the quiche eaters got the no-zone defense and completely destroyed the NFL with all kinds of goofy judgment calls about did the free safety interfere with the receiver more than five yards down field. Who cares? Let the secondary mug the receivers and give the officials a break.

Baseball is not a game for specialists. If you take the field, you will take your turn at bat or leave the game. Period. If we think pitchers are too specialized to hit, what about the other players? Why don't we just have offensive and defensive platoons like they do in football? Why should we let the shortstop hit? Isn't he a specialist, too? And, like a pitcher, the shortstop often can't bat his weight.

Why not just have nine specialized players who play the field and four rotating specialized batters? And specialized base runners. That is baseball as the quiche-eating reprobate Charley Finlay envisioned it. Of course, baseball is the only game where the defense controls the ball, and Finlay would have found a way change that, too, if he could.

But why talk about it like this? We'll give the quiche-eating fans more silly ideas. That we real fans don't need.

By taking strategy out of the game, it has made the game less cerebral, and by making the game less cerebral, it become less exciting. It is baseball for the kind of fan who best compares to tea bagger in politics.

It is time for the American League to get a clue and acquiesce to the rules of the game. It is time for us real fans to take the game back from the quiche eaters and end this unfortunate sally into the placation of the uneducated rabble.

DUMP THE DH!!

[cherokeeprogressive]

42. God DAMN I think I may have just fallen in love...

I wish I had the gift of words that you do.

A perfectly stated case AGAINST the DH rule that will surely stand the test of time.

[madinmaryland]

43. Kicked and recommended!

x(

Dammit, no recs from this forum!

Thanks, Jack!

:thumbsup:

[dakota_democrat]

52. People that don't object to the DH = teabaggers.

This forum never ceases to amaze.

[flvegan]

53. Used "quiche eaters" 6 times.

yeah, I'm calling *cough* douchebag *cough* here.

Almost bordering on bigoted, I think. Not that being a being a bigot doesn't have a solid and embraced place here in this forum.

[madinmaryland]

54. yeah. nt

[Iggo]

44. Neither.

[Auggie]

45. I voted

Neither league should have it

[nickgutierrez]

48. I don't hate the DH, but I'd rather not have it.

The need for it has come and gone, and it slows down games more than necessary. I wouldn't mind having it for the All-Star game, where people want to watch the best in the game, but regular season and playoff baseball flows better without it.

[trotsky]

49. Good arguments can be made both ways.

DH spares the fans from having to watch a pitcher strike out several times a game, and allows some pretty good players to continue taking the field and entertaining the fans after their days as an effective fielder are over. That's important to the game too, right?

Basically, I don't understand the fuss or the religious devotion that some people seem to have toward one side of the debate. If you like the DH, follow an American League team. If you don't, pick an NL team. Then STFU!

[brendan120678]

50. Leave it as it is, so that...

the REAL baseball fans can continue to make fun of the wimpy AL pitchers.

[JonLP24]

51. I prefer no DH

I like the National League mostly because of the Rockies but also because of no DH. I will say I do like the fact that each league has a different rule.

[Blue_Tires]

56. neither should have it...

[KamaAina]

58. Wouldn't say, Chivas of Guadalajara be a better choice as "Americas Team"?

:P

[Ishoutandscream2]

59. Got your back, Mad