Put Down the Bats and Slowly Step Away

I always thought of myself as a baseball purist. Yes, I find artificial turf an affront to the baseball gods. But I'm slowly coming around to the idea that it's time for the National League to adopt the designated hitter.

Why the change? I'm tired of watching pitchers trying to "hit." Especially Phillies pitchers, who are slashing a meager .102/.152/.102 this season. Meager doesn't even cover it. They stink like feet. Twelve hits in 118 at-bats with 63 strikeouts and a whopping 4 RBI. No extra-base hits. I'd rather see the Phanatic hit than watch a Phillies pitcher come up with runners on base.And besides, the Phils can use all the offense they can get.

I want the DH for selfish reasons. Let's say the DH comes to the NL next season. With Andrew McCutchen coming back from a season-ending ACL injury, DH is the perfect way to work him back into the lineup without worrying about the wear and tear on his legs early in his return. Jay Bruce is under contract through the end of next season, so he can stay in left field.

The DH would also give the Phils a chance to rest the legs of JT Realmuto and Bryce Harper every once in a while. And we wouldn't have to watch the pathetic efforts of pitchers trying to hit any more or worry about them running the bases, if by some act of divine intervention by the baseball gods, they somehow managed to find themselves on base.