How to fix MLB designated hitter rule: 3) Don’t
This last one is actually the most radical idea, certainly the most heretical given the present MLB climate. But does anything really need to change?
If there is one thing fans love, it’s the opportunity to have something to debate over with other fans. Which player from which era is better. Which free agent should be signed, or which hot prospect should be drafted. What that bum of a manager was possibly thinking.
To DH or not DH is the ultimate baseball question, the most time-honored of arguments. It also makes the leagues truly unique in way that just isn’t true of opposing conferences in the other major sports. Plenty of fodder for lively conversation, and a point of interest.
More importantly, it is also not even in the Top 10 for reasons many a sports fan finds the NFL or NBA more worthy of their time and money than MLB.
Consequently, why should the league spend so much time worrying about fixing something that a significant chunk of owners don’t want fixed? Time battling over the DH this winter is time that could be spent making changes that actually will matter to those casual fans with the attention span of a gnat Manfred is so interested in winning over. Pitch clocks, eliminating the shift, anything and everything to pick up the pace of play and the number of balls in play. Or work on changes that all baseball fans can agree on, like expanding replay, reigning in umpire mistakes, or letting players actually show emotion.
There are just bigger problems that MLB has to worry about than the designated hitter.
Bottom line: Something is going to give when it comes to the universal DH in 2022. Adopting any of these three approaches would be a step in the right direction.