Because when we went to 30 teams from 28, Selig didn't want 15 teams in each league. Doing so would mean there would mean there would have to be at least one interleague series going on all the time. So they moved the Brewers to the NL and had 16 teams in the NL and 14 in the AL. Now Selig decides that he wants the leagues to be even. The NL Central has 6 teams. The AL West has 4. It would make the most sense to move a team from the NL Central to the AL West so that all divisions have 5 teams. The Astros didn't necessarily want to move but with Drayton selling the team to Crane, MLB and the other owners were threatening to not approve the sale of the team unless Crane agreed to move the team to the AL West. Crane caved and the Astros are now an AL team.
This is my point. People say NL pitchers have to play "the whole game" and AL pitchers don't. But we actually ask more of NL pitchers than we do of any other players in the league. I prefer AL baseball not because I necessarily LIKE the DH, but I do dislike pitchers hitting. It's a waste and they get injured. Pitchers need all the breaks they can get.
And on the flip side, AL DH's are asked to do less than all the other players in the league. Imagine, you step up to the plate 4 times a night and sit for the other 3 hours and get paid for it.
Pitchers almost never play 9 innings. They rarely get hurt hitting (yes we all wish Carlos Hernandez had just struck out, but I don't wish for the DH). Edit: Sorry I was slow on the joke earlier.
I just love baseball. Last I looked both the NL and AL play the same game. Different rules but you still got to hit the ball with a bat, run the bases and catch the ball with a glove to get 'em out.
so basically you guys want the pitcher to hit when pitchers can't hit worth s*** I'm thinking the AL is better so we can have an EXTRA HITTER on the plate instead of some dude who will just bunt or strike out when he SHOULD be RESTING HIS ARM in the dugout am I the only one who sees this logic if you want to be competitive.... I think so. /thread
For me, the AL isnt the issue. The issue are: 1) That we were blackmailed into making the change. 2) That rivalries take a long time to make, and now we have to start from scratch. 3) I will miss far more games due to a heavier balance of them being on the west coast.
I don't know what you are rambling on about. What do you mean "if you want to be competitive"? Both teams get to have an "extra hitter", so there is no advantage for either team. You are obviously a fan of the AL, good for you. Just don't expect a bunch of guys who have followed the NL for almost 50 years to share your opinions.
Did you bother reading Cannnball's post as to strategic decisions that are lost? Your 'logic' escapes me.
yeah, DH's do less so they can focus on hitting and yes I would rather have a DH (someone who is paid solely to hit the ball and do nothing else) than a pitcher hit the ball who should only be worried about getting strikes on the mound rather than at the plate And what is this about the Astros having rivalries??? As far as I'm concerned, the only rivals Houston has are the Chicago White Sox (World Series '05) and the New York Mets (NLCS decades ago) and maybe the Cardinals from a half DECADE ago...
The White Sox are a rival? I mean, they did sweep the Astros in 05, but I really didn't care for them before or after...
If by "I dont care for them" you mean you dont like them, then thats already a prime ingredient for rival creation :grin:
if that's not enough for you AL haters I don't know what is plus the AL Tigers are probably going to come out on top in the Series this year, so the AL is the better conference with better competition
The 2010 Giants and 2011 Cardinals beg to differ. You really consider an 18% difference that overly compelling? At least by your own logic, the NL was the better 'conference' (did not realize they had conferences in baseball) the past two years - correct?
If both teams play by the same rules, how does this make us competitive. If anything, we'll be less competitive initially because we don't really even have enough major league hitters to fill out 8 spots in the batting order let alone 9. I can't believe you used the word "logic" in that sentence.
