AL ball vs. NL Ball Which do you favor and why?

Thump · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 08:59 AM

I'm sure it's no shock that I'm an NL baseball fan and yes I've been a Reds fan my whole life.

I came up with the idea for this thread after debating who should be the AL MVP with Sloopy45 and others. (Very good debate by the way.)

The reason I'm a fan of NL ball is that there is much more strategy needed to manage and play in a NL game. With the pitcher batting, that changes the entire dynamic of the game. Do I pinch hit for my pitcher or keep him in b/c I need him to pitch the next half inning?

Do I bunt this guy over even though the pitcher is in the hole?

Do I steal third b/c the pitcher is on deck?

Now granted, I see strategy in AL games b/c the DH usually needs to pitched around in many cases but just seems to me like AL games are more simplistic to play and mange than NL games.

As I stated in another thread, I'd rather see a 2-1 pitchers duel than an 11-9 shootout.

exhawg · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:02 AM

I've never watched the NL. Go DH!!!

High Lonesome · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:05 AM

NL, GO STROS!!!!

Thump · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exhawg

I've never watched the NL. Go DH!!!

BLASPHEMY!!!!

strohs · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:09 AM

I am an AL guy (Tribe Fan), but I dont like the DH.

Sloopy45 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:37 AM

Thump: "Now granted, I see strategy in AL games b/c the DH usually needs to pitched around in many cases but just seems to me like AL games are more simplistic to play and mange than NL games."

I like that you started this thread. I'll give my take, which I'll preface by saying is completely biased because I'm an AL fan.

On the rare occasion that I do check out a Mets or an NL game, it seems like the wind in taken out of the Inning in which the pitcher has to hit. Normally when I'm watching a high stakes Yankee game, I'm pinned to the TV each Inning concerned that the opposing team can put together a rally. Whenever the Inning comes with the pitcher due up, its time to take a breath of fresh air.

I'll give you an example of what the DH can do to a pitcher & a team: the 1997 Cleveland Indians.

In May of 1997, I watched a Yankees-Indians game where the Indians came back from a 5 run lead against us to either win or lose by a run. This was unheard of in 1993 to 1997, because the Yanks used to intimidate and OWN the Tribe, if you remember. They would fold up like an old lawn chair. A comeback like this was unheard of. And they kept playing us tough all season. I told my roomate in C-Bus that this team is more dangerous than the '95 team. He laughed at the time.

And the reason I believed that is this: while the '95 team was more explosive at the top of the line-up, if you could limit their ABs and keep Belle, Ramirez, & Thome in the ballpark and Baerga & Lofton off the bases, you could shut the Indians down. In '97, the Indians 7-8-9 was more potent (Marquis Grissom, a great playoff player, clutch hitter, and I guy I've always had a lot of respect for, was the Tribe's 9 hitter in the Playoffs if I remember correctly). They kept getting on base, and kept turning the line-up over. Eventually, if you can't count on those 3 line-up spots for outs, the sluggers in the line-up come up 5 or 6 times a game instead of 4 - and with more chances, eventually, a guy like Jim Thome is going to hurt you. Bad.

And that's why they eventually beat us that year. They kept turning the line-up over to where the Yanks pitchers had to face the heart of the Indians line-up too many times per game with runners on base.

Not to mention that the DH allowed us to see the great Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz (# 1 & # 2 in all-time Yankee Killers, unfortunately) rake for a living. Without the DH, Martinez' bad knees would've forced him into early retirement, and (more than likely) the Curse of the Bambino would still be alive and well - is that particular example an argument for or against the DH? I dunno.

High Lonesome · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:53 AM

There was a great example last night of how the NL is exciting. In the 5th/6th (i dunno its all a blur right now) The astros had men on 1st and 3rd with one out. Adam everett was at the at the plate in the 8 hole with the pitcher due up the cards were not going to give Everett anything to hit. in order to counter this Garner put on the suicide squeeze. It is one of the most exciting plays in baseball and was attempted only because the pitcher was due up.