The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 1012 – Players Who Benefit from the NL DH

by
February 11, 2022

2/11/22

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NL DH CANDIDATES

  • Atlanta (3:20)
  • New York (10:22)
  • Philadelphia (25:30)
  • Washington (28:35)
  • Miami (32:08)
  • St. Louis (39:01)
  • Milwaukee (46:05)

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  • Cincinnati (59:11)
  • Chicago (1:08:18)
  • Pittsburgh (1:12:24)
  • Los Angeles (1:15:45)
  • San Francisco (1:18:21)
  • San Diego (1:22:11)
  • Arizona (1:31:27)
  • Colorado (1:35:11)

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Approximately 105 minutes of joyous analysis.

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Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

9 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
SaltyMember since 2017
4 years ago

Justin’s long anticipated return of the NL DH is finally here. Someone call Seth Beer’s agent ASAP.

1
bluerum29
4 years ago

Very disappointed in baseball. The way things were set up before was good for all. If you liked the DH you had the AL, if you didn’t you had the NL. Now, it just sucks.

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
4 years ago
Reply to  bluerum29

I just can’t fathom wanting pitchers to bat. They’re incredibly awful at it and the extra injury risk is just soooo unnecessary.

0
MichaelMember since 2017
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Then pinch hit for them 3 or 4 times a game as it is….

3
Josh
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

I just want to commend you on the immortal quote in this episode “he didn’t pick that one; he sucks sh*t!”

0
bluerum29
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

They aren’t all awful at it and they could spend a little time to be decent. At one point most of them had the skills to hit when they were younger, they practiced. Just work to be good bunters would be enough. Injury risk? They get hurt doing all kinds of things, like focusing on throwing so hard and messing up their elbows. Need more pitching coaches like Leo Mazzone and his approach to arms.

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
4 years ago
Reply to  bluerum29

With due respect, they are ABSOLUTELY *all* awful at it. Bumgarner has a 44 wRC+. They don’t practice it because teams won’t let them as they know the upside just isn’t worth it. And it’s only getting worse year over year. The last year pitchers delivered a positive wRC+ was 1982 and it was 1. Literally 1 wRC+, lol.

Just bc they get hurt doing other things doesn’t mean the extra risk of getting hurt while hitting/running the bases isn’t completely unnecessary. Trading in the -22 wRC+ that pitchers hit last year to avoid even 1 catastrophic injury across the league is worth it.

I’m sorry, I’ll never be convinced that pitchers batting has ANY value. It’s been discussed to death and the pro side has never presented an argument that comes close to moving the needle for me.

-1
airforce21oneMember since 2026
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

How’s Ohtani?

2
bluerum29
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Teams should let them practice it, just as players shouldn’t be so specialized when they are younger. Need to develop all muscle groups and uses for them. Not letting a pitcher run because he might get injured, that is just a joke. He should be able to run. Of course it has been getting worse if teams don’t let them practice it. Sacrifice hits should be a major focus of a pitchers stats. Is that taken into account in your wrc+ stat? They don’t need to hit like other players in the lineup, just do things that are beneficial, as in, not just strike out. If they move a runner over, that is an absolutely positive outcome for their at bat. The DH was installed in the AL to increase scoring for added entertainment. I prefer lower scoring and better pitching numbers.

1