Is the designated hitter rule finally on its way out with Major League Baseball?

[scandal 951]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-1...,4802677.column

Commissioner sets up non-binding rules' committee

Phil Rogers On Baseball

Is the designated hitter rule finally on its way out with Major League Baseball?

To be fair, it's premature to ask such a potentially provocative question. But thanks to Commissioner Bud Selig's decision to turn recommendations for on-field matters over to a newly created version of the NFL's Competition Committee, the DH rule could face its first real threat since the American League accepted it permanently for the 1976 season, after a three-year experiment that began as a way to create run scoring and increase attendance.

Nothing in baseball during the modern era has sparked stronger feelings than the DH rule. The AL has used it for 37 seasons, but the National League never has considered it strongly.

Selig's 14-member committee to consider all on-field issues, which was announced on Tuesday, will not have formal authority. It includes four current managers, four current or former general managers and four ownership representatives, along with MLB official Frank Robinson and journalist/baseball fan George Will.

Selig said he will "be guided by what this committee comes up with" on matters including "scheduling, postseason format, umpiring, pace of play and instant replay." The commissioner did not mention the DH rule, but Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and longtime Braves executive John Schuerholz, who joined Selig on a conference call, both listed it as the one thing they potentially would change if they could.

Schuerholz did not say he would be in favor of eliminating the rule.

"When I was in the American League, I was in favor of the designated hitter," said Schuerholz, whose teams won World Series in Kansas City and Atlanta. "In the National, I've maybe taken another position. Our game has proved it can succeed and flourish with the different approaches in the different leagues."

La Russa said he would be in favor of eliminating the DH, except for the All-Star Game.

"I think the game is more complete without the DH," he said.

La Russa, like the other three managers on the committee ( Joe Torre, Jim Leyland and Mike Scioscia) has seen the DH rule play a major role in World Series play involving his teams. It is used in the AL park and not the NL, creating two different styles of games in determining championships.

Forced to build deeper rosters because of the DH rule, the AL has had an upper hand against the NL in recent years -- a trend borne out in results from the All-Star Game, the World Series and in interleague play. AL teams have been bigger spenders than their NL counterparts.

Like many matters that the new committee may consider, including expanding the role of instant replay, a change in the DH rule would require approval of the players' union. Owners never have gone to the union to consider a change in the rules but could do that in the round of talks expected to begin in early 2011.

In addition to Schuerholz, Robinson, Will and the four managers, the committee includes Andy MacPhail, Mark Shapiro, Terry Ryan, Paul Beeston, Chuck Armstrong, Bill DeWitt and Dave Montgomery.

Selig said the first meeting will be in January in Phoenix.

La Russa spoke for his fellow managers, saying they were pleased to be included in the process. He said he had no reluctance finding time to participate.

"It's a matter of priorities," he said. "What bigger priority is there than what benefits the game?"

Selig cited "the pace" of the game as one concern he hopes the committee will address. Replay is a hot-button topic with fans and the media, but executives and managers appear split about the wisdom of expanding it beyond its current use, which is only to review home run calls.

Selig denied the committee was formed in response to media pressure on that issue.

"I have been looking at this for a long time," Selig said. "This is not a reaction to some of the things that happened during the playoffs. I'm not saying that didn't keep me moving forward, because it did, but I've had this in my mind for a long time. ... I am really looking forward to this group doing some things that are really meaningful. Maybe in a year or two we'll look back and see how significant this really was."

Future generations of one-dimensional players should quiver.

[slim 1,533]

I kind of like the DH rule. It's always interesting to see how teams play it when they're playing the inter-league games. I can't say I'll miss it if it's gone, but then again, it just adds a different level to the game.

What the commissioner and everyone else should realize about Baseball is it's perfect the way it is. Well, it would be with a salary cap, but other than that, it's perfect.

[thongd4me 69]

No DH is somewhat of a "purist" argument but as long as both sides have access to it, things are fair.

What would be interesting is having two DH's but the team fielding the 2nd DH would have to take out the shortstop

Now take a look at THIS: Baseball's Smallest PH