Quote:
Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy
I was at the local Half-Price Books yesterday, and picked up something interesting. A copy of the 1973 Baseball Digest season preview issue, for only $3!
In it, there was an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of the new DH rule. Very similar to some of the arguments posted here, but I did notice one anti-DH argument there that never really came to pass.
Some of the antis thought that the DH would lead to pitchers throwing at random batters more often, since the pitcher no longer batted, and therefore couldn't be held responsible for brushbacks when his time to bat came around. Another reason I love old articles like that...you get the perspective at the time, unfiltered by years of hindsight.
They also had the Cubs winning the NL East in '73...so take it all with a grain of salt, I guess.  |
Actually the book "The Baseball Economist" (author's name escapes me) pretty much demonstrates that the numbers for hit batsmen are much higher in the AL ever since the DH and for that very reason (ahem, Roger Clemens).