The specialization slippery slope
First off, it completely devalues being a well-rounded player. MLB players, at least the good ones, are supposed to be good at all the skills required to play the game of baseball — fielding, hitting, base running. Even pitchers, who have now somewhat understandably gotten a pass on the whole hitting thing, are still expected to be competent fielders. Having a designated pinch runner is a scary step towards the kind of offense/defense specialization that exists in the NFL. If a pinch runner is adopted, how long until MLB rosters are just expanded enough to allow an entirely separate defense to run out there behind the starting pitcher?
I mean, that would boost the offense, right? More runs? More scoring? Of course it would. However, it would also be a gross violation of how the game is played. Position players take pride in playing the whole game. For the most part, the greats are the greats for being great at both. Admittedly, this is a bit of a slippery slope argument. But based on all the changes made to date … is it that hard to imagine a future with designated fielders?
If you’re being honest with yourself, you know the answer to that question.
More importantly though, it’s just too radical a departure from what has been done previously, and the spirit of the game. The same designated runner can be used every inning. The player swapped out can come back into the game after being swapped out. This strips away even more of the strategy that goes into a baseball game. This also puts pitchers, who have already been significantly handicapped in their ability to control baserunners, in the position of being handicapped further still.
The result? More pressure on pitchers. Less incentive to actually try to be a well rounded player. Less strategy or drama around roster moves late in the game … because the same move will have already been made every inning someone has reached base.
Especially since…