Nick Piccone
I miss baseball. It’s my favorite sport. It’s also nearly impossible schedule-wise for me to follow the Korean league, so I can only really catch highlights of those games, and watch old Phillies games on YouTube. That’s where I’m at right now.
I will admit, however, I am a bit excited about the prospect for MLB baseball this season, whether it has limited fans or no fans. To me, baseball is baseball. The lack of fans won’t impact my enjoyment of watching the game I grew up loving. So if MLB can assure proper restrictions, and player and personnel safety for all involved, I’m okay with baseball returning this season. Easier said than done, for sure, but sports are a huge part of my life, and at least seeing something like that would show me there’s hope for the future to actually return to normal.
In an interesting note about the prospective season, however, is that the approval of a universal designated hitter in both the National League and American League is expected by the players, according to Jon Heyman.
Universal DH proposed by MLB is expected to be easily approved by players, who long favored idea. It won’t impact finances in ‘20 but could boost pay for select few in ‘21 based on better stats. Teams helped: Dodgers (great depth), Nats (same), Brewers (Braun), Mets (Cespedes?)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 13, 2020
Growing up, I always thought the players playing in the game on defense should bat for themselves, including the pitcher. I thought the American League was lame for the DH, and dubbed it “fake baseball” at one point. But, alas, I’ve come around.
The DH in both leagues eliminates any competitive advantage the AL had over the NL. I was a purist and fine with the DH in the AL, because I’m a Phillies guy and never thought my team had to worry about that stuff unless they were in the World Series. Funny enough, in 2008, the DH was not a competitive advantage for the Tampa Bay Rays because everybody knew the Phillies had “built an AL lineup.” And that’s where my opinion began to change.
We suffered through those terrible years of the front office trying to build a cheap roster a lot during my lifetime. I think with the addition of the DH to the NL, it will hold more NL teams accountable – AND MATT KLENTAK – to somewhat change their outlook when it comes to roster-building. I don’t think they’d completely change their philosophy, but you can afford to have one or two guys on the roster who can’t play in the field anymore. It’ll create longer careers for some. Imagine Jim Thome staying here as a DH when Ryan Howard was called up and having them both in the lineup. The DH could’ve actually allowed that scenario to happen.
I also don’t want to see Aaron Nola bat. I don’t want to see any pitchers bat. It’s a news item when a pitcher can actually handle the lumber well. And I’m just over it. I’d rather not see an automatic out come to the plate with the bases loaded. In a stadium like Citizens Bank Park where the balls fly out consistently – mostly for the other team the last few years, but I digress – the Phillies could use an extra power hitter in their lineup. It might also make trades easier. I’m on board now. Let’s do it.
You can follow Nick Piccone on Twitter (@nickpiccone) and e-mail him at [email protected]. You can read his pro wrestling articles on PhillyVoice here.
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