What’s going on with the DH in MLB? | Quick Question (MLB Originals)

With MLB using a universal DH for the 2020 season, what is the reason it wasn’t happening in the first place? On this episode of Quick Question (presented by Apartments.com), we explore the reasons for why pitchers have been hitting in the National League, while the American League has used the designated hitter for almost 50 years. Pitchers are becoming worse hitters as the years go on, but baseball may be at its purest form when they hit. Which side of the debate to you find yourself on?
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[@williamklumpenhower1188]

You forgot the 4th argument against the DH: watching pitchers make absolute fools of themselves is very funny

[@papagrantits]

Can't argue with this

[@sasha1O1]

Mlb out here making VOX vids 😂😂😂

[@timelessbaseball6126]

I'm down actually. I like the style.

[@noahwelch7438]

MLB isn’t fake news, that’s the only difference

[@timelessbaseball6126]

@@noahwelch7438 Yep!

[@PaulieWalnuts1776]

Noah Welch Oh no! Someone stated facts you don’t agree with?! Fake news!!!

[@DreadJester448]

Yet somehow these are so much better

[@cypothingy]

This series is absolutely fantastic! Keep it up!

[@ShanAndreiP]

Bartolo Colon: Home Run Hitter

[@alleanklienbonita4705]

yes

[@katherineberger6329]

One home run in his entire career. Dan Plesac had only one *hit* in his entire career.

[@theerrantwanderer]

I mean though people love him for swinging at everything like it's a fastball to the point of his helmet falling off 😅

[@wintyforever]

@@katherineberger6329put some respeck on Big Sexy’s name.

[@christill]

I think it works great with the current system. The way it works with inter-league and the WS is really cool. If I had to choose only one, I’d pick National League rules because I love seeing stuff like we saw with deGrom helping his own cause the other day. But I don’t have to choose.

[@XprPrentice]

No hot takes about interleague play?! I've got one - it's terrible.

[@juancuelloespinosa]

The 2 conferences in a sport having slightly different rules is one of the many things rhat makes baseball so different from other sports. Gives you the chamce to enjoy tradition, which is fun, but also gives you specialization, which can also be interesting

[@julianalvarez6714]

Without the universal DH Madison Bumgarner would’ve never hit a grand slam and Bartolo his homer or Adam Wainwright’s 10 homeruns

[@TyliteTony]

mentioning moments that happened a long time ago doesn't help your case at all. I'm not wanting a negative wRC+ guy in my lineup

[@julianalvarez6714]

Padres Farm I know and I am all in for the universal DH but without it theses somewhat historic MLB events wouldn’t have happened

[@Joel.Stickland]

@@julianalvarez6714 What about all the historic events that wouldn't have happened if a pitcher struck out instead of a DH batting? Any historic David Ortiz home run for example

[@julianalvarez6714]

@Elias Joga Yes he should have 11

[@Greenkeeper132]

@@julianalvarez6714 But historic events like Edgar Martinez double in 1995 or David Ortiz entire career wouldn't have happened either. How can you compare glorified memes to those moments?

[@cthoffman9351]

for the sports future, I think the dh being normal for both leagues is important... while tradition is important to baseball, it's important to adapt... seeing a pitcher be good at the plate is also great entertainment but it's so uncommon I don't think these points outweigh the entertainment value of dh's...

[@mayalackman7581]

That's basically how I feel. A part of me wants to stick with the all players hit attitude for the sake of tradition but at a practical level I just feel like designated hitters are the way of the future.

[@cthoffman9351]

@@mayalackman7581 nature shows us it's important to evolve in order to thrive and survive.. I feel the same here.. between the pitchers cheating and no dh, the action is slow and boring.. when hitting is thriving, it only helps the game. a good example is the field of dreams game.

[@JJ............................]

I'd say to have a DH in both leagues, but give the managers a choice of whether they want their DH to be the pitcher starting, or if they want the DH to be another player on the bench. When the SP gets taken out, then that SP can remain the DH, the relief pitcher will be the new DH, or the manager will choose another hitter on the bench to be the DH. It will benefit two-way players like Mckay and Ohtani or other pitchers who like to hit and are good at hitting.

[@davezanko9051]

And that's exactly what's happened. The Shoei Ohtani rule.

[@anonymoususer3012]

That's literally the case though. The DH has never needed to replace the pitcher, it's just that pitchers are almost always the worst hitters

[@MANIIAKYTB]

I prefer pitcher going to the bat for me it just makes more sense, a player just here to hit is weird for me. Everyone should both play offence and defence imo (or atleast keep the NL like that for future seasons)

[@BEA6H]

Im so happy that the MLB Season is back!!! ☺️

[@chanaweinberg9359]

Another excellent video, MLB. I'm loving these, keep 'em coming.

[@archercaltabiano7220]

There should be a universal DH the game is different now pitchers can't hit well

[@arvindhmani06]

Let's have a vote right here to settle this matter once and for all DH: comment No DH: like

[@thedude3065]

some people question DH's I say let the pitcher decide take Zack Grienke, or Madison Bumgarner for example they're absolute units with a bat in hand and I'd have faith in their ability to perform when called upon

[@dylanashford]

The thing is that those guys, while great (mad bum is my favorite player of all time) aren’t good enough to compete with an actual hitter mostly

[@thedude3065]

@@dylanashford compare Greinke's slash line to Jeff Mathis'

[@dylanashford]

I know! I saw it in baseball bits and it blew me away! But most pitchers would like the strategic advantage of a dh and grienke and ohtani might be the only pitchers good enough to waive the dh for. Plus if you have mathis you’d like the dh because then he can hit ninth and most position players (even bench ones) are better than grienke

[@paulmcconnell3620]

I’m soooo hyped for this season!! It is going to be very interesting!

[@davidtee5367]

The DH removes over half the strategy from the game to the point where we might as well rename it. Fite me! eh.... I'll give it a shot, but my bucs barely have enough bats for a full lineup as is.

[@adriansookai]

lol

[@NotExplicable]

Nobody casual outside of baseball cares about that.

[@SkuzzBenson]

love how no one corrected the "fite". Yall cant be that ignorant.

[@brian4019]

To take the pitcher out for a pinch hitter or not? Wow. Mind blowing strategical decision.

[@Shinobi33]

That's fucked up I didn't even know they changed it this year. Baseball isn't only about hitting bombs. The DH is so unnatural to the game.

[@benjaminmartinez7415]

MLB LAS MAYORES👏🙌🙏🏼🔥🔥❤🙇‍♂️😍

[@connoroneill4041]

2:50 Lesson (that should've been) learned: Don't let your ace take a bunt to the face. Get a DH.

[@mohammedserahy2007]

I vote for DH in both leagues

[@TheUnnamedAssailant]

Prefer the AL way, you can preserve the health of your pitchers and you get the added bonus big home runs.

[@Toews1247]

In Little League I pitched and batted cleanup and I loved it

[@imjustjim4030]

Why not allow up to 9 DHs? - replace every "all glove no bat" player with an "all bat no glove can't run" player - cost the teams a small fortune but they do it in the NFL - a 53 man MLB roster - 9 on offense, 9 on defense; special teams would be players who only run the bases. Pretty much can't watch baseball at all anymore - got better things to do in those 4 hours (here in Red Sox land especially - let's play 5 - hours that is) but if given a choice it'd be NL all the way - actually having to manage the game - what a concept.

[@jada846]

Who narrates these videos? I'm a fan.

[@aaronscarpa7469]

Shohei Ohtani laughs in Babe Ruth.

[@GeliCarlosJ]

How about you make it universal DH but if a pitcher also wants to hit then sure he can pitch and be DH

[@BlueCheezy.]

I think all the teams should choose if they want the pitcher to hit or not

[@Derekwwest]

Lol, guess I know which way this channel is leaning. Pitchers wouldn't be lousy if they got in the cage is often as everyone else.

[@bloopandablast9257]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be youngest DH his fielding fine but he needs more confidence and practice in that hitting also anthony rizo is jacked this season gonna be fun.

[@moronmonkey1]

I like having the pitchers hitting in the NL. Not only do I love seeing a pitcher get a hit or hit a home run. I love the extra game planning it takes by an NL manager with stuff like double switches. And if you are a bench player you definitely want to be in the NL because there are so many more opportunities to pinch hit in a game then there are in the AL.

[@giacomocapodellago3246]

I'm an internationalist, I was born in the USA. I have a love hate relationship in this. Baseball is one of these issues. My history goes back to the first mention of the game and an illustration from old England. A children's game. base ball. .. Bored and waitiing in encampments, soldiers on either side are seen playing baseball. The war over, the soldiers who excelled barnstormed, by 1869 an orhanized league exists. In 1876 the big money buys out the franchise and the National League is formed. What it is today, I don't recognize..

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

Remember, Babe Ruth was a pitcher before he amassed 714 home runs...

[@bloopandablast9257]

The question is whether mlb teams think its worth keeping star players who are to old to field as DH in baseball even when they are not living up to thier contract.

[@thesmithersy]

In cricket, the bowlers have to bat. some of them get high scores too. I don't think it is right to force the DH on the NL at all. It's good to have variety and encouraging subtle tactics.

[@timelessbaseball6126]

5:13 - this was true, but in the 1840's to 1860's. Definitely not since MLB was conceived or when that footage is playing.

[@omarortega4753]

I agree with DH let's say you don't have more bench players cus you used them all and the bases are loaded with 2 outs extra inning important game and pitcher is hitting are you going to give a easy out with no DH and with DH you dont have to pinch hit cus you know that there is a big threat at the plate that will win you a game so nationalleague was a weaker league and a better league for the pitcher now is a test for the pitcher that use to pitch around to a hitter to get to a pitcher now let's see that that era rise up for the nationalleague!!! 😊👍

[@jackfaulkner6848]

Very cool video but I think the national league poster should hit because it is exciting and as kids we learn hot to field pitch and HIT and it should stay that way and pitchers don't have to hit good but they should try because so there is a difference between the different leagues and it is more exciting for a pitchers hit.

[@timbatman1958]

Pitchers should hit #pitcherswhorake

[@ianfaulkner9377]

Do they respond?

[@MLB]

Oh yeah

[@Paul71H]

The DH, wild card teams, interleague play, instant replay, pitch clock, limits on mound visits, runner on 2nd base in extra innings . . . . all of these changes or proposed changes are in one way or another designed to make baseball more like football or basketball. There's just one problem. I like baseball precisely because it's NOT like football or basketball. The more they try to make baseball like those other sports, the less I like it. I like baseball precisely because every player has to play offense and defense, because success in the regular season matters more than getting a lucky break in the playoffs, because the game moves at a relaxed pace while maintaining tension and excitement, because games can go an unlimited number of innings, and so on. These are the things that make baseball different, that make it stand out, that are key to its special appeal. The more baseball changes to resemble other sports, the more it is just another sport rather than something special.

[@mannymota2871]

Keep the DH in the American league

[@hihello8432]

I love MLB

[@FireFox-ke1nz]

Zack Grenike is the best pitcher at batting, like if you agree.

[@arjb1046]

I can't stand the bias in this video. There are legit reasons why there shouldn't be DH beyond any nonsense of tradition.

[@chadhammond8546]

Pitchers batting is one of the most nuanced factors of the game itself. Sure, it is ugly to watch a pitcher take an awful swing at a pitch he can't do anything with, but that's part of the game. A player should not be playing r to do one part of the game....like pitch....or bat. Professional players should be well-rounded like every other professional in every other profession that works for a living. As a teacher, I'm expected to be better at things at which I'm not particularly gifted. We call it professional development. Yes, I know, they are ELITE players, but does that mean they can opt out of playing other facets of the game besides the facet that is their best talent? Besides, it screws around with the code. Having no DH means "If you pitch at my players, I hit your players the next chance I get" goes away. It takes out the neutralizer factor that has always been a part of the game.

[@Jacobthekid28]

Either have it in both leagues or dont have it at all.

[@TSkillzX]

Such a well done video

[@nicholasvenet]

The split is nice just keep AL with DH and NL without

[@kennethcox6895]

Bartolo Colon batting average : 0.084. Well played mlb

[@Science-bi8dp]

It's a dumb rule. You play and you hit The soul of baseball was lost when players and teams starting cheating Like with the DH. Give Alex Rodriguez some gummies bears until his turn to hit

[@onehand-yusuf7212]

The soul of baseball was lost when the commissioners at the time knowingly turned their back to cheating but it also led to the revival of the mlb so I'm split

[@Paul71H]

There are many false assertions in this video: Low-scoring games are boring. Wrong -- pitchers' duels are among the most exciting games! There is no longer any controversy over instant replay. Wrong -- many people complain that instant replay slows down the game. There is no longer any controversy over the height of the pitching mound. Wrong -- it's not unusual to hear complaints that baseball has swung too far in the direction of offense, and that one solution would be to restore the pre-1968 pitching mound. This was especially true during the steroid era. There is no longer any controversy over interleague play. Again, I think this is wrong. Many people don't mind it, but some find it to be a distraction from competing against teams in your own league. For the record, I am against the DH, for one simple reason: I think it is a fundamental part of baseball that every fielder has to hit, and every hitter has to field.

[@flyinpigmusic331]

Great content MLB!

[@kodic4419]

This is going to be exiting! ⚾️❤️

[@dorothysewing9997]

If the pitcher is good at batting, then perhaps he could be a DH on a day he’s not scheduled to pitch.

[@tracktrix8028]

Well it's not a problem for shohei othani

[@scallywag4978]

They’re ball players, play ball. That includes hitting. Pitchers are babied enough. You play on grass, you have nine players and they all play.

[@ruloez5587]

Pitchers are literally automatic outs. If they could actually hit I would have no issue with them hitting me

[@khaichern]

meanwhile in football there is punter, kicker, long snapper...

[@ertyu0078]

i so like the idea of this they shoul just rid of the pitcher batting in the nl divsion anyways

[@travisjones640]

Whatever the rule is should be the same in both leagues.

[@zaumen32]

2:30 Shohei Ohtani: and you were saying?

[@SkuzzBenson]

Players still play no matter the DH. Pitchers pitch, batters bat. Whats the problem. Someone you dont want hitting hits??? Still a baseball player

[@bradenrobertson8211]

So how is everyone feeling about baseball coming back?

[@ekerson]

Way to not talk about all the great hitting pitchers.

[@nftscreenshotter6436]

not even the point of the video

[@slabpanda]

I despise the designated hitter

[@FPSDALLAS]

I'm surprised Shohei Ohtani didn't get recognized for being an absolute beast at both Pitching and DH.

[@edmundlewandowski4189]

It would have probably taken away from a main point of the video in every pitcher except him is bellow average for an mlb batter. At best they can be above average for maybe 30 plate appearances. He’s done it for a season and a half.

[@anandante2576]

in 2018 yes but not right now

[@zervox136]

Now this mans played left field couple of days ago

[@sourlandsumo]

@@anandante2576 this didnt age well lmao

[@yayos]

@@sourlandsumo it really didn’t lmaoo

[@bradynovak3575]

Do they respond?

[@bobrestore]

I’m ok with having AL and NL just the way they are and would have liked it if this season did not have DH for all teams.

[@jj-qm8iv]

"Most pitchers don't like to hit" *shows a clip of ONE pitcher saying he doesn't like to hit*

[@Joel.Stickland]

You do know that the DH allows pitchers who are actually good at hitting to have more AB's right? Pitchers are allowed to be the DH

[@joecarlino4652]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C You need something better to do

[@khondrah5561]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C Idk why you randomly commented this, or if this is irony, but if literally no one in America cares about soccer so far they never will lmao

[@khondrah5561]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C oi oi oi mate don't you bloody me. How many of those people are actually just kids forced into a sport by their mom so they aren't fat? Cause you know they won't care about it later in life lol. And those 50 million fans can be involved in other sports - other sports they can like more. Soccer is not going anywhere in America. Literally hockey is more popular. HOCKEY. I'm not even saying soccer is bad or anything but this random agenda you're putting in baseball comments just won't happen. Maybe in other countries, but not here, because we pride ourselves in the sports that set us apart and make billions.

[@coolsparkz47]

MANCHESTER UNITED F.C don’t be acting American when you use the word bloody you brit

[@goldenapplereviews9135]

I have really mixed feelings about this rule change.

[@EJanco28]

Who can’t wait for the season

[@MLB]

Me

[@sellout5899]

Everybody

[@bobrestore]

I can't wait! Go White Sox

[@nilemayo18]

Me, Go Cubs!

[@ethan60645]

Nile Mayo Go Cubs!

[@Mi-fj5wx]

What a ridiculously slanted video. MLB, if you want the DH to boost attendance, just do it. But don’t make it seem like everyone really wants this, save for those fuddy duddy traditionalists, who actually enjoy baseball.

[@josewmeldondo]

People who enjoy baseball can also prefer a DH.

[@Mi-fj5wx]

Joshua Maldonado That’s true. I’m a big Athletics’s fan myself, and love watching Khris Davis hit (but don’t love watching him field, as much). But I also love that in the nl, the pitcher does hit. Having the difference between the leagues is interesting and charming and allows for the pros and cons of both solutions (esp in interleague when an al pitcher has to gear up, or an nl team gets to stretch out a starter).

[@kevingohdcantgo10_0]

For some people being a DH is good for people like Nelson Cruz or jd martinez

[@THayes.]

I see you everywhere!! Lool

[@amschmidlkofer]

I'm for no DH in the NL. I don't think it's about keeping the tradition of the game the same for me though. I love the intricacies of double switches and the strategy behind knowing the 9 spot in the order is unlikely to get a hit. And my goodness, seeing a pitcher go deep is one of the most exciting moments in baseball.

[@TyliteTony]

do you think having a negative wRC+ hitter with like a 45% strike ou rate, "one of the most exciting moments in baseball"?

[@amschmidlkofer]

No, but I think the strategy of playing around the number 9 spot adds to the NL game.

[@Greenkeeper132]

Does it compare to the Edgar Martinez walkoff double? To his or David Ortiz' entire career?

[@brian4019]

this idea of strategy due to the pitcher in the lineup is way overblown. Do you take him out for a temporary offensive advantage or not? Wow. Not exactly the kind of thing that requires a spiritual retreat to consult the Dalai Lama. Do it if you need the offense, and don't if you need the pitching. Sweet Jesus.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@amschmidlkofer No it really doesn't. It adds the risk of a pitcher getting injured doing something he's not used to and not comfortable with. Playing around the 9-hole is stupid. Teams shouldn't have the assurance of knowing their opponent has to waste at least 3 of their 27 outs.

[@baileysmith4744]

i think the DH is good, but only for AL. if you want to watch DHs hit, watch the AL .if you want pitchers to hit, then you can with the NL rules.

[@jonathanrohrich7479]

I feel the AL can have the dh and NL keep it the same

[@ferraridan4883]

Amen brother !

[@Tony-hz8ld]

Leave it alone. DH in AL. No DH in NL. It divides the leagues. It separates the leagues. It makes baseball twice as good period.

[@bootsgonesavage]

Dh baseball is so boring a bunch of blowouts

[@DarlingMesa]

Please leave Baseball alone. The pitcher hitting brings a lot of more strategies to the game and also it gives the opportunity to more players to get a chance at bat.

[@yugster78]

The #9 spot in the line up is there for a toilet brake or getting a beer.

[@coolsparkz47]

💀

[@PaulieWalnuts1776]

I call BS on the “strategy” of having a pitcher hit. It’s more like ceremony. The AL still has pinch hitting, pinch running, double switches, etc. just not as much. And the video said that the DH basically saved baseball from bankruptcy.

[@sungha360]

Shohei Ohtani is an outlier.

[@pavlovsworld9122]

What's the insinuation here, that if it's old or should change? The future is always in front of us. It doesnt exist. When you say we should change to be more in line with the future you're chasing ghosts. Every fielder hits. Get your pitchers healthy.

[@pavlovsworld9122]

@ for our posterity, there needs to be a solid line stated and enshrined that is clear and will never be crossed. The inherent problem with democracy is if it becomes what is most popular at the time... Imagine if we have dual threat pitchers?! To get to that point would be incredible. However, the fact the league allowed the DH creates a wrinkle in that if we eliminate the DH what will those guys transition into.. To avoid that problem is why lines are important

[@heavydiscussion8389]

Pitchers who rake! #NoDH

[@matthewmyers267]

I understand why people like the DH. However, when baseball was first created it was meant that if you play the field you hit at the plate. I understand that most pitchers are not good hitters, but it is unfair that if the entire team has to play all parts of the game, that two people - the pitcher & the DH - get to only participate in half of it.

[@dwashington1333]

Relief pitchers don't hit very much either in the NL.

[@djm5687]

Perhaps teams should be allowed to have 9 DH's. The NFL didn't always allow free substitutions. Many "traditionalists" hated when the NFL introduced it. Nowadays, does anyone think that the NFL should force all players to play 60 minutes of offense *and* defense?

[@katherineberger6329]

When baseball was first created, batters could tell the pitcher where they wanted the ball thrown, and the pitcher had to oblige. Things change over time for a reason.

[@taylormillion7244]

I love quick question from mlb so much

[@ST-wr6bo]

They dont talk about how the MLB is losing fans and that the DH could bring more fans in, cause they keep on denying it

[@Garbgaming]

Yea I like I think it’s better with a DH cuz a lot of the DHs are fan favorites kris, Davis,Nelson cruz,Jd Martinez and some other guts

[@ST-wr6bo]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C legit not single person asked

[@thehoodedteddy1335]

Unfortunately, that problem is way more than just designated hitters can fix.

[@betox7698]

Volta logo MLB! Ótimo Video.... Congrats.... 🇧🇷🇧🇷👍👍

[@W7RSON]

Vai Brasil!!

[@giacomocapodellago3246]

home run derby ain't baseball..

[@lunarfaze]

Great video. Although I love a pitcher's duel, strikeouts, low-scoring, grind it out, small ball games, I understand why so many want the DH. I say try it out and see. See how the teams, players, and fans react. Baseball, although footed in tradition, is fluid.

[@ralphcraig5816]

1 run a game is the difference between NL and AL. The AL plays a game without strategy.

[@DarkKirby14LP]

Ralph Craig pure ignorance

[@regularamerican6034]

I think the problem with the whole NL trying it out would be that some teams would be hate it and some would love it, so half the league wouldn’t like it but be forced to do it. The only way to keep everybody happy would be to let each team determine if they allow DH in their home park or not, but that’d be tedious and require teams to go back and forth with rules every away game.

[@djm5687]

An interesting experiment would be to have 8 man batting orders and only allow pitchers to replace pitchers. In other words a pitcher cannot switch for a first baseman (and vice versa).

[@ekerson]

You should be able to play both sides of the ball. I hate those DH's who cant even bend over to pick up a ball or even throw it 20 feet or when the do hit the ball, they have to limp to 1st.

[@katherineberger6329]

Nelson Cruz would have lost out on six of the most productive years of his career without the designated hitter rule.

[@xyzscorpion2449]

Pitchers should hit. You get paid millions of dollars to play baseball, that should include a little bit of hitting.

[@DFDiscGolf]

Better question is why just to watch one game the minimum I will have to spend MLB is $35 a month and that’s region based. I played for 20 years and you have made me hate baseball. Thanks for being greedy especially in this time

[@ZZValiant]

The NL and AL should keep their different rules! That and the fact that stadiums have different dimensions gives the MLB so much more charm than the other North American sports leagues!

[@matt.per30]

Sup MLB🔥😊big fan

[@pjyork8879]

NL shouldn't have the DH. Nuff said

[@GGE47]

We don't have traditional baseball. They ruined it with multiple divisions and wild cards. It's structured too much like the NFL. And please learn to have a way to play the game at a much more reasonable pace. It is too boring to watch games just draaaaaaag on and on and on. I don't give a damn about the DH. It's all one league now, not two separate leagues. It's all about the money, players union, owners, umpires and the TV networks. It was my favorite sport growing up, now it is all ruined. The way they handle pitchers with that pitch count is very untraditional. It is ALL a crime against baseball. The DH is the least thing I think of as being untraditional.

[@Zeratul723]

"So, quick question..." okay, I have a quick answer then. "...should there be a designated hitter?" No. Next.

[@Zeratul723]

And this video is trash.