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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 18:59:25 GMT -5
No more pitchers hitting!
As a Yankee fan, even as a little boy, the American League always held my allegiance with the designated hitter. Watching nearly all pitchers flail awkwardly at the plate, while eight-hole hitters were walked in tough spots, cemented my preference with each strikeout to end an inning and a potential rally. Why, then, do I feel a pang of sadness reading the announcement of the agreement that the DH shall now be universal? I swear sometimes I feel like a walking avatar for cognitive dissonance. Its probably just because its the end of a long tradition. The nostalgia factor, old time blues, all that. |
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Post by rizzuto on Feb 10, 2022 19:16:03 GMT -5
As a Yankee fan, even as a little boy, the American League always held my allegiance with the designated hitter. Watching nearly all pitchers flail awkwardly at the plate, while eight-hole hitters were walked in tough spots, cemented my preference with each strikeout to end an inning and a potential rally. Why, then, do I feel a pang of sadness reading the announcement of the agreement that the DH shall now be universal? I swear sometimes I feel like a walking avatar for cognitive dissonance. Its probably just because its the end of a long tradition. The nostalgia factor, old time blues, all that. I’m not certain. I think perhaps I enjoyed the separation of the two leagues, the distinction of American vs. National more than I realized. It’s not that the double switch was a scintillating maneuver, but its employment was more characteristic of the National league. Perhaps I just do not favor homogenization. My natural constitution embraces the viva la difference of food, culture, discussion, and points of view. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction because I prefer the designated hitter for myriad reasons. |
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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 19:33:31 GMT -5
Its probably just because its the end of a long tradition. The nostalgia factor, old time blues, all that. I’m not certain. I think perhaps I enjoyed the separation of the two leagues, the distinction of American vs. National more than I realized. It’s not that the double switch was a scintillating maneuver, but its employment was more characteristic of the National league. Perhaps I just do not favor homogenization. My natural constitution embraces the viva la difference of food, culture, discussion, and points of view. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction because I prefer the designated hitter for myriad reasons. Understandable. Well at least now it will be easier to find trade partners for Voit, Andujar, and Sanchez if necessary. |
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Post by rizzuto on Feb 10, 2022 19:36:08 GMT -5
I’m not certain. I think perhaps I enjoyed the separation of the two leagues, the distinction of American vs. National more than I realized. It’s not that the double switch was a scintillating maneuver, but its employment was more characteristic of the National league. Perhaps I just do not favor homogenization. My natural constitution embraces the viva la difference of food, culture, discussion, and points of view. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction because I prefer the designated hitter for myriad reasons. Understandable. Well at least now it will be easier to find trade partners for Voit, Andujar, and Sanchez if necessary. Great point! I wasn’t even thinking in that direction. Your fantasy baseball ⚾️ participation is honing your GM skills! |
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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 19:49:40 GMT -5
Understandable. Well at least now it will be easier to find trade partners for Voit, Andujar, and Sanchez if necessary. Great point! I wasn’t even thinking in that direction. Your fantasy baseball ⚾️ participation is honing your GM skills! LOL, I actually don't play fantasy baseball anymore but I'll take the compliment anyway! 
Only fantasy football for me.
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Post by pippsheadache on Feb 10, 2022 20:22:12 GMT -5
Its probably just because its the end of a long tradition. The nostalgia factor, old time blues, all that. I’m not certain. I think perhaps I enjoyed the separation of the two leagues, the distinction of American vs. National more than I realized. It’s not that the double switch was a scintillating maneuver, but its employment was more characteristic of the National league. Perhaps I just do not favor homogenization. My natural constitution embraces the viva la difference of food, culture, discussion, and points of view. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction because I prefer the designated hitter for myriad reasons. The melding of the two leagues has not made for a better game. The rivalry and separateness between the AL and NL enriched the sport. There was an American League culture and a National League culture that was clearly embraced by fans, players, and even owners. It wasn't even all that good-natured. Somewhere along the way, the geniuses who run the sport saw economies of scale in diminishing the healthy distinctive differences, eliminating League Presidents, putting umpires under one tent, the bastardization known as interleague play, and now this. Which to me is actually a lesser transgression than the aforementioned, but that's no doubt because I was a baseball fan for many years before the DH was adopted and I was strenuously opposed to adopting it on pretty much the same grounds that I opposed celebrating Catholic Mass in the vernacular -- I think it was Edmund Burke who said "if it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change." But in truth, Connie Mack was advocating for a DH at least a century ago, but he was voted down by the other owners. The league rivalry was so intense that Yankee fans like me easily pulled for Boston in the World Series of 1967, 1975 and 1986. Unthinkable today. I didn't even root for the hometown Phillies back in 1980 or 1983, even though I liked them better than the teams they played in those years, Kansas City and Baltimore. It was a League Thing. Same reason the All-Star Game meant a lot to all fans. League bragging rights were an issue. My friends and I razzed each other mercilessly about it. Now, I haven't even watched an ASG in years. The rivalry, such as it is, has been completely watered down. |
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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 20:39:37 GMT -5
I’m not certain. I think perhaps I enjoyed the separation of the two leagues, the distinction of American vs. National more than I realized. It’s not that the double switch was a scintillating maneuver, but its employment was more characteristic of the National league. Perhaps I just do not favor homogenization. My natural constitution embraces the viva la difference of food, culture, discussion, and points of view. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction because I prefer the designated hitter for myriad reasons. The melding of the two leagues has not made for a better game. The rivalry and separateness between the AL and NL enriched the sport. There was an American League culture and a National League culture that was clearly embraced by fans, players, and even owners. It wasn't even all that good-natured. Somewhere along the way, the geniuses who run the sport saw economies of scale in diminishing the healthy distinctive differences, eliminating League Presidents, putting umpires under one tent, the bastardization known as interleague play, and now this. Which to me is actually a lesser transgression than the aforementioned, but that's no doubt because I was a baseball fan for many years before the DH was adopted and I was strenuously opposed to adopting it on pretty much the same grounds that I opposed celebrating Catholic Mass in the vernacular -- I think it was Edmund Burke who said "if it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change." But in truth, Connie Mack was advocating for a DH at least a century ago, but he was voted down by the other owners. The league rivalry was so intense that Yankee fans like me easily pulled for Boston in the World Series of 1967, 1975 and 1986. Unthinkable today. I didn't even root for the hometown Phillies back in 1980 or 1983, even though I liked them better than the teams they played in those years, Kansas City and Baltimore. It was a League Thing. Same reason the All-Star Game meant a lot to all fans. League bragging rights were an issue. My friends and I razzed each other mercilessly about it. Now, I haven't even watched an ASG in years. The rivalry, such as it is, has been completely watered down. Wow, your dislike of the NL was greater than your dislike of Boston in 67, 75, and 86? Though I've heard this same sentiment from others too. You're right, unthinkable today. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Feb 10, 2022 21:11:14 GMT -5
Another discussion I had with JWild, Kaybli, and we were both rooting for Boston simply because they were AL and you always rooted for the AL. Also, I have no recollection of the rivalry being nearly as hostile back then. Maybe because I didn't grow up in New York, or maybe because Boston had been hapless for so long.
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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 21:13:36 GMT -5
Another discussion I had with JWild, Kaybli, and we were both rooting for Boston simply because they were AL and you always rooted for the AL. Also, I have no recollection of the rivalry being nearly as hostile back then. Maybe because I didn't grow up in New York, or maybe because Boston had been hapless for so long. I thought the rivalry was pretty heated in the 70s during the time of the Bucky Dent game and Thurman Munson? |
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Post by pippsheadache on Feb 10, 2022 21:20:52 GMT -5
Another discussion I had with JWild, Kaybli, and we were both rooting for Boston simply because they were AL and you always rooted for the AL. Also, I have no recollection of the rivalry being nearly as hostile back then. Maybe because I didn't grow up in New York, or maybe because Boston had been hapless for so long. I thought the rivalry was pretty heated in the 70s during the time of the Bucky Dent game and Thurman Munson? Oh, it was there, but fans weren't nearly as nasty about it. Probably because the Yankees always came out on top. The rivalry seemed to be generated almost entirely from the Boston side. Maybe it was just me as a non- New Yorker, but I took as much pleasure out of beating Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago as I did in beating Boston. |
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Post by inger on Feb 10, 2022 21:23:26 GMT -5
I recall my resistance to the DH in the winter of 72. I slowly accepted it, with a great deal of pain. I would say that by about 1980, I was sort of over the whole thing.
But even now I still recall that for every boring strike out and bunt there was that rarity. The anticipation of that rare situation where a pitcher would come through with a big hit created an unexpected bonus. It was comparable to getting to kiss the pretty girl down the street, or for once be the guy that got the date with the cheerleader.
My gosh, a pitcher cracking a home run, and maybe you got to second base. I had a great admiration for pitchers who COULD hit, and had a strong anticipation for their at bats.
There are of course historic home runs by pitchers. Tony Cloninger, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Rick Wise, Jim Tobin. I probably don’t have to rehash what they did. Babe Ruth and the conversion. Bob Lemon and his conversion. Mel Stottlemyre and his 5 hit game.
Those moments were so special, yet they can NEVER* happen again. It’s sad. On top of that, for there person with Noetsism they will no long have the chance to critique several thousand bunts per year, nor to rejoice when that rare attempt would roll into no man’s land.
This was not my decision to make, but if it were, I would have rather left the NL like it was and to have either abolished inter league play or decreed that both teams would have a DH when the leagues opposed each other. Abolishment of inter league play would be by far my favorite…
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Post by inger on Feb 10, 2022 21:28:26 GMT -5
Another discussion I had with JWild, Kaybli, and we were both rooting for Boston simply because they were AL and you always rooted for the AL. Also, I have no recollection of the rivalry being nearly as hostile back then. Maybe because I didn't grow up in New York, or maybe because Boston had been hapless for so long. My feeling was (at that time) that I’d say, Boston had bested NY in the playoffs then, I would prefer to believe that Boston was the best and there were no teams in the NL that were better. We would still prevail as baseball’s second best if Boston won. So it was something other than League loyalty. But yes. I used to always root for the AL team to win. It’s kind of heavy logic… but a logician is one thing I am… |
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Post by inger on Feb 10, 2022 21:30:27 GMT -5
I thought the rivalry was pretty heated in the 70s during the time of the Bucky Dent game and Thurman Munson? Oh, it was there, but fans weren't nearly as nasty about it. Probably because the Yankees always came out on top. The rivalry seemed to be generated almost entirely from the Boston side. Maybe it was just me as a non- New Yorker, but I took as much pleasure out of beating Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago as I did in beating Boston. As a Marylander, my greatest thrill was always nice, healthy feather plucking of dem Boids in Baltimore… and I thought of Boston as a lesser opponent… |
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Post by pippsheadache on Feb 10, 2022 22:07:31 GMT -5
Oh, it was there, but fans weren't nearly as nasty about it. Probably because the Yankees always came out on top. The rivalry seemed to be generated almost entirely from the Boston side. Maybe it was just me as a non- New Yorker, but I took as much pleasure out of beating Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago as I did in beating Boston. As a Marylander, my greatest thrill was always nice, healthy feather plucking of dem Boids in Baltimore… and I thought of Boston as a lesser opponent… Same here Inger. Living only 70 or so miles away, and with the Wilmington newspaper we got giving more or less equal coverage to the Orioles and Phillies, beating the O's from the mid-60s through really the mid-80s was my greatest pleasure. Mainly because they were so good, certainly among the handful of best-run organizations in baseball during that stretch. I also hated the Phillies as a kid, mainly because most people around me rooted for them and hated the Yankees. I softened on them when I left home because they were something familiar that reminded me of the old home town, pathetic though they usually were until the mid 70s- mid 80s. |
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Post by kaybli on Feb 10, 2022 23:30:22 GMT -5
My boy Nightengale at it again  :
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