Honestly, its a hilarious argument. Its a total joke. What brought baseball back to life in '98? I can sure as hell guarantee you that it wasn't double switches and pinch hitters and other things you like to call "strategies". So to say that people don't like "homerun fests" is a complete lie. Its exactly what the majority of the casual fan wants to see. And baseball knows that.
Would you rather watch the special olympics or the traditional Olympics? NFL Europe or the actual NFL? NBDL or the NBA?
You're absolutely right, as long as you're comparing the AL to the NBDL and NFL Europe. If you *prefer* offense, or the AL style of play, fine. But it's absolutely ludicrous to compare either league to developmental leagues or the Special Olympics.
attendance for NL teams seems just fine. where it's not fine, it's a product of the market and the success of the franchise in terms of wins and losses.
I think NL baseball is a superior product to the AL variety. Yeah, people were interested in Sosa Vs. Big Mac....but if all people wanted to see were home runs, I guarantee you one of your precious AL teams would give Baroid a job. Looking at 04 and 05 attendance..it doesn't jump out at me that the AL product is preferred by casual fans. The Yankees outdraw every one. But the NL had 4 teams draw more than 3 million vs 2 in the ALone year and 6 teams vs 2 another year. And 7 AL teams drew less than 2 million in 04, vs 3 in the NL (Including a lame duck Montreal team). Now if by "casual fan" you mean someone who doesn't come to the ballpark but might watch Sportscenter to see some mammoth jacks. I am not gonna disagree but I don't care. Maybe all casual fans want is offense, in all sports. Certainly most recent rules changes seem to favor handicapping defenses in hoops and football. Doesn't mean they are making the game better.
Of course, that's not what you asked either. But making games quicker does make them more watchable. And for many people, the intricacies of strategy are what makes a baseball game watchable in the first place.
Its probably a regional opinion. If you live in a city with an AL team, you're probably gonna support the DH rule, and vice-versa someone living in an NL city will support having no DH. The Yankees and Red Sox the 2 glamour franchises happen to be in the AL and use the DH, so of course what they do reigns supreme over everyone else. And Hanky Boy let the prestige predictibly go to his head and demand changes of the other league to their way......
Having a DH is like saying you can't sack the quarterback....sort of..... Plus, I like watching guys like Jamie Moyer stand in at the dish. It's pretty funny.
Talk about hilarious. It was the NATIONAL LEAGUE that brought baseball back to life. McGwire and Sosa, Cubs and Cardinals, in a steroid fueled home run race. No DH anywhere to be seen. The casual fan was watching historic home run races by the biggest sluggers in baseball, they were not coming to watch the Rangers and A's pound out 12 to 10 wins until midnight.
I vote yes. Having a pitcher bat is like a free out for the other team most of the time. What's the sense in that? Kind of expected this response, though, seeing as where this BBS is located.
Good point. If all you care about is homers we might as well not just allow steriods to be used indiscrimantly in baseball but also encourage it.
