[Freo-1]

You make a good point. However I see it this way, the pitchers is specialized at pitching. Therefore a team should have a batter that is specialized at batting, for the pitcher, who generally suck when it comes to batting.

Here is another point to consider:  Back when all the pitchers had to bat, they were better at it.  Sure, most pitchers did not hit all that well, BUT, at least they all could pretty much bunt runners along.  Hell, today, some regular MLB players can't do that very well today.   I blame Earl Weaver, whose preferred strategy was the "three run homer" 

The strategy involved with how long to leave a pitcher in makes the game much more interesting at a number of levels. 

There has been some talk about dumping the DH, and expanding rosters to 27 from 25 to sweeten the pot for the players.  That sounds like a winner to me.   

[cujobob]

I was fine with the dh rule until the game slowed down to an insane point. Having a pitcher bat makes things like bunting, hit n run, and other strategies more essential thus creating a more balanced game. A home run should be somewhat rare and impressive otherwise its watered down and boring. Tiny stadiums as have been built for ten or so years are hurting the game, too. Now its a game of pitching and home runs with little strategy otherwise. Before the dh, the strike zone was called to the shoulders and now its barely the belt. Throwing a breaking ball for a strike has become near impossible...I don't know, I think after 1968 some changes were necessary but its just too watered down now.

It's odd to see an awfully average pitching staff in the world series but good luck to the Rangers.

[Mag]

The problem with that is a pitcher only plays like 1 in 4 games. So like he's not sharp like a regular batter in the line up.

A team can leave a hot pitcher in as long as they want until he goes cold. Then they bring in another hot pitcher. So batters seldom face a weak pitcher for very long.

If a team has a fixed number of pitchers they can use during a game. Then I would concede on the DH rule. But until then you need to counter hot pitching with hopefully a hot batter.

[twitch54]

Congrats to those Cardinals, while I wasn't too happy with them beating the Phillies, it does prove who was the best team in baseball at the end of the season !!

[michaelhigh]

Thank you Twitch, I usually don't discuss sports on audio fora, but my Cardinals had amazing heart and resolve to go all the way, and actually did again, for the 11th time in history. Speaking of history, Albert Pujols flirted with it again when he hit 3 HR's, and also had 6 RBI's in Game 6, also achieved by only Babe Ruth and someone for the Cubs in 1940-something, the last time that team were in the Series. Now it's a matter of resigning Pujols, he won't be cheap. We diehards in STL will not be satisfied unless we can keep him, cost no object as we say in our hobby here. Go Cards, 2011 World Series Champions...

[zybar]

I was fine with the dh rule until the game slowed down to an insane point. Having a pitcher bat makes things like bunting, hit n run, and other strategies more essential thus creating a more balanced game. A home run should be somewhat rare and impressive otherwise its watered down and boring. Tiny stadiums as have been built for ten or so years are hurting the game, too. Now its a game of pitching and home runs with little strategy otherwise. Before the dh, the strike zone was called to the shoulders and now its barely the belt. Throwing a breaking ball for a strike has become near impossible...I don't know, I think after 1968 some changes were necessary but its just too watered down now.

It's odd to see an awfully average pitching staff in the world series but good luck to the Rangers.

Texas made it because they have a great offense, an excellent bullpen, and a good, but not great starting pitching staff.

George

[zybar]

Congrats to the Cardinals and all of their fans.   

I think it is safe to say that even the most die hard Cardinals fan didn't see this coming back at the end of August or early Sept.

A truly remarkable last two months!!   

George