Finally, I was able to sit down on Sunday and enjoy a baseball game from start to finish! It was mentioned on the Cubs game today that this week is the 35th anniversary of the Designated Hitter. This prompted mrs. jp23 to suggest that I mention this and write about it. This is a very hard one for me, even as I claim to be a traditionalist when it comes to baseball. I had to debate the American League side of this (I had to be pro-DH) in a class when I was in college (yes, we did indeed debate this topic in a Sports In Philosophy class and this very same professor was the one who got me into Fantasy Baseball way back in '92). I don't remember the merits, if you will, of my argument, but I seem to remember basing a chunk of my argument toward specialization (by this time, the 3 inning closer was past and middle relief as we know it today was taking shape). So how do I weigh in on this sixteen years later?


I'm torn, because I think it's actually quite serviceable. I won't dive into any sort of statistical data to back up my argument; that will truly be boring. Most people go to games to see a slugfest. I personally don't. The strategy argument? Does it really make that much of a difference if you have to worry about the pitcher's slot? I would think a team would love to have an extra hitter to bring across runs. In the past, pitching was more dominant in the NL than AL because they didn't have the extra hitter to worry about. I don't believe that anymore. As a tradtionalist, why tinker with a game that is 130+ years old? Because change is good and the DH has not killed baseball. Should David Ortiz be in the field? Probably not. Dave Kingman's career was saved by the DH, as were many others such as Edgar Martinez and Harold Baines. Is the DH less a player because he's not in the field? No- the name of the game is to hit the ball (and suppose to field and catch it as well). Answer the poll questions and let your vote be heard!

Desiginated Notes:


-Here's a saying mrs. jp23 suggested be used for the Chicago Cubs: Cubs Alliteration-(Cubs’ standing as being) “mired in the midst of mediocrity". Kinda feels that way, doesn't it?


-I'm already getting the next batch of "Hunter Flops" for next week: CC Sabathia, Ted Lilly.


-I like this just because of the headline (thanks espn.com): Hunter's walk-off granny lifts Angels over Indians

Should Hunter be calling his granny "walk off"??? Am I the only one that finds this funny??

I found this nugget on www.faniq.com, courtesy of mlb.com: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080408&content_id=2504342&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

So Red Sox Nation allowed Bill Buckner throw out the first pitch in their home opener yesterday? The Bill Buckner who big time perpetuated the Red Sox jinx in 1986 (with Cubs batting gloves in pocket apparently)? I'm a Buckner fan from his brief days with the Cubs, but couldn't they do better? Is he truly forgiven now that they have won two championships??

I keep dwelling on the Tigers, but 0-7??? Only two teams have reached the playoffs after going 0-6, but can the Tigers bounce back from this hole?

Derek Jeter's groin injury has prompted speculation that A-Rod will move to SS. Can anyone really see this happening? I don't think it's wise

Anyway...that's it. Email your Hunter flop candidates.