DH or No DH
 

Hi Everyone,

I've been playing OOTP for 8 years now and really enjoy the game. I have a fictional league with two leagues, one that uses the DH rule and one that does not. I looked back and the last few seasons and here's what I found, in general:

DH league games typically have one-half additional run scored in the games' combined score.

DH league games typically have the same number of HR as non-DH leagues (altough there is a very slight favor to DH leagues, as expected).

On a per-team basis, DH league teams typically have 4 fewer one-run games during the season.


I am considering making both leagues non-DH as I believe this might make the games more exciting. I play out all of my games and the team I manage is currently in a DH league. I'm thinking the strategy might be more interesting if I convert the league to a non-DH league.

Does anyone have any comments or thoughts about what type of league they favor and why, and their experience?

Thanks! Brian

No DH..on default settings there is already more than enough offense IMO

The numbers...
 

1973-2009 (so far) AL (history of DH): 4.66

1973-2009 (so far) NL (history of DH): 4.35

Historical diff: 0.31, maybe the game inflates the DH effect a little bit, but then again you said "half a run difference in the games' combined score". Does that mean that if both teams scored 0.25 runs per game more in the average game that the combination would be 0.5 runs per game? Or am I up a tree? Just trying to figure out for myself if the game is mimicking RL or needs tweaking (though not much)

Interesting. I guess if you already realize that the DH creates a bit more in runs per game than the non-DH games does then the less closer games point should be obvious, but I never really thought about it.

That said, if you're a fan of the just get on base, don't try anything risky and just swing for the fences type of game then the DH is probably more what you're looking for. While the get on base and run the bases as smartly as you can and get someone to drive you in fans should maybe look to the non-DH game.

I used to greatly prefer the non-DH game simply for the seeming symmetricalness of it, but I've been coming around to the DH game because it allows that one extra good and often popular or interesting batter into the game who just doesn't field very well. Given the above, though, kind of makes me want to go back to the non-DH game.

I made this move years ago. It does make the games you play out more exciting and it also increases the strategic elements and forces you to make more difficult decisions.

Here's how it works for me...

When I play out my OOTP games, I never use the DH. When I'm sitting in front of the monitor, I like the strategy and the game decisions that I am forced to make. It's more fun that way.

BUT...

When I go to a real game, I would rather see the DH. When I'm sitting in the stands, I couldn't care less about the manager's strategy. I want to see some hits and some runs. It's more fun that way.

I prefer to use the DH because I sim a week or more at a time. Therefore, there is additional strategy for me to fill the extra roster spot and make a 9-man lineup.

I like leagues without the DH because it adds an extra layer of strategy for managers; increases slightly the likelihood of pitching duels (which I find exciting); and means that there is more of an incentive for cool players who have unusual secondary skillsets (i.e. good-hitting pitchers in particular; but also pinch-hitters; defensive replacements and utility guys who all become marginally more valuable in non-DH leagues).

I don't like to make too much of this, though, because I don't want to turn into one of those guys. You know.

I always use a DH in one of my subleagues and none in the other. I really like the real life difference in the leagues and I like playing interleague games where my team is set up a little different than in normally would be. I never hands-on manage in OOTP but I prefer to set up my teams in the non-DH league because I like the use of pinch hitters and stuff- it keeps my bench involved whereas I could run a DH team and give the at bats to the same guys every single game.

It's interesting to note in my fictional league that my non-DH league actually has more offense because it contains more hitters parks.

I am a bit of a baseball purist, so I tend to prefer non-DH leagues, but the pragmatist in me thinks having a pitcher bat is really just a waste of an AB, especially if you can just plug-in a full time batter in his place. :)

But having a pitcher bat also involves a lot more strategy on the part of a manager in many cases. It just seems way to easy to manage a game with a DH.