February 6th, 2019 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It is happening baseball fans – the final thread linking the way the game of baseball was designed to be played back in 1869 to today’s game is about to be severed.
Despite our old-school pleas, hopes and dreams, and a 45-year campaign to keep the designated hitter out of the National League, MLB rule 5.11 is about to be changed to now include the senior circuit … and soon.
How soon, you ask?
How about Opening Day 2019, which is exactly 49 days from today.
Late Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) posted this on Twitter, the result of a proposal sent by team owners to the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on January 14, 2019:
“A universal designated hitter – something the players have sought for more than three decades, according to commissioner Rob Manfred – also was part of the union’s proposal. Under the plan, the National League would adopt the DH for the 2019 season,” writes Rosenthal.
“I think [the DH in the National League] is a continuing source of conversation among the ownership group and I think that the dialogue actually probably moved a little bit,” Manfred told reporters at the conclusion of the quarterly owners meeting back on June 14, 2018. But based on what Rosenthal reported on Tuesday following the January 14, 2019 quarterly owners meeting, that dialogue has (apparently) reached the (near) implementation stage.
Chief among the argument of those in favor of bringing the DH to the NL is that it will (supposedly) bring more action and higher scoring to the games. But while this may be (and probably is) true, not everyone is 100 percent on-board with the idea, at least not entirely.
“So the universal DH has been officially proposed,” popular Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis posted on Twitter on Wednesday morning. “As with all rule changes, we’d get used to it. But, man… The grouchy old man in me hates that a distinct brand of baseball would die.
“Anytime I sneak away for a national broadcast of an AL game, I’m always struck by how different the game feels. Just a whole ‘nother layer to an NL game,” Davis added.
As Rosenthal notes, the DH rule isn’t the only proposed change on the (very near) horizon. Team owners are also asking for implementation of a “three-batter-minimum” rule for pitchers. And while bringing the DH to the National League is (was) inevitable, this three-batter-minimum rule comes as a bit of a surprise and could have an even greater impact on the overall game.
It’s no secret that teams were very well aware that Dave Roberts’ 2018 Dodgers team was primarily a dominant (and powerful) left-handed-hitting team last season. As a result, opposing managers would often bring in left-handed relievers to force Roberts to burn up his very thin right-handed bench. As such, by the time the extremely important late innings rolled around, many (most) of Roberts’ best hitters were out of the game. And while a three-batter-minimum rule will not entirely eliminate this, it will force managers to give a lot more thought to playing the now-popular analytics-based match-up game.
As the great Babe Ruth – who was born on this day in 1895 – once said: “The only real game, I think, in the world is baseball.”
The Babe must be rolling over in his grave right about now.
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Posted in 
Stupid move
Hate that this could happen…bigger concern is NL clubs haven’t had time to structure rosters to include a DH. It’s not a simple as plugging in a bench player for the pitcher! Although with Dodgers depth they could be ok.
https://twitter.com/Marrtician/status/1093195526630068225
EXCELLENT point, although this is probably why it is coming out now before ST begins. But still, and as you noted, NL teams were not given the opportunity to sign potential DH-only players. Again, a great point and one that could possibly delay the decision (IMHO).
You suck Manfred. Look at how all the rule changes are ruining the NFL and learn. Keep the game the same. It’s bad enough that instant replay completely changed the game. No more neighborhood play on double-plays. No more swipe tags. You want to speed up the game? Managers must call for a replay before the replay is shown at the stadium and they can’t review it on TV before deciding to call for it. If it’s too close to call, let the umpires decide. Otherwise, let computers make the call and remove the umpires altogether.
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The DH sucks! It sucks that you’re letting a dude that can’t play the field hit, and you’re taking the bat away from a player that has the hardest job in baseball. I don’t want to see old guys career’s extended. I want to see guys play ball. I want to see strategy. I want see pinch hitters force the hand of the other manager and drain bullpens. Who the hell uses a DH anyways? How many pure DH’s are left nowadays? Teams are now using the DH spot to shuffle players in and out of the field for artificial days off.
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The three batter rule is stupid as well. What a joke. If you want to accomplish the same thing, put a max number of pitchers on the roster and don’t let position players pitch anymore. I’m sick of these 8 man bullpens and starters lasting 5 innings. How about, 12 pitchers on the 25 man and no one else can get on that hill? Then Dave Roberts will have to think twice about burning so many pitchers every day. Go back to the 15 day DL too. All of this will generate more offense without having to sacrifice the strategy by putting the DH in the NL. Hell, why not take the DH out of the AL while you’re at it. Maybe the AL fans will like the game better.
re: 3 batter rule. It’s only because the Commissioner hates frequent pitching changes as much as I do, and it’s probably the simpler change to implement versus roster limitations.
I would implement it, though, just to screw Roberts. Would love to see the insides of his brain churn when he knows he cannot put in Scott Alexander to throw a single pitch.
I’m thinking more of Bruce Bochy, who may hold the record for pitching changes in an inning. Heck, he might be in a twelve way tie with himself.
It’s a three batter rule unless the inning ends. There is still room for the LOOGY to come in with two outs, but if he doesn’t get his guy out then he has to face the next batter and perhaps one more.
I don’t think the details are close to being finalized, but your point makes sense. But keeping a one batter relief specialist on the roster for those infrequent times is not an efficient use of a roster spot
With the new three batter rule a manager could talk to his reliever after facing each of the first two batters without having to bring in a new pitcher. The six mound visit limit will likely deter this action unless a manager saves those visits for the late innings.
Best way to slip an asinine idea through is to pair it with something asininer (OK, probably not a word, but I reckon y’all get the point).
I’m wondering if waving that three batter rule, then dropping it, is their way of placating those of us opposed to the DH.
Just added “asininer” to my personal dictionary; too good of a word not to and certainly a better word that “texted.”
Nobody could be asininer than Manfred.
The DH is coming to the NL, it is just a matter of time, but I don’t believe it is now, or 2020. Why? Because the DH is much too large a bargaining chip to give up at anytime other than negotiations for a renewal collective bargaining agreement. My SWAG, the DH will not be in the NL before 2021, at the earliest. Even if NL owners are unanimous in wanting the DH, I think they know it is a top target of the union and the trade off should be much greater than a couple of rules that will theoretically improve the pace of play which Manfred can unilaterally impose under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement.
IMO, before implementing new rules hold the umpires accountable for current rules interpretation; my pet peeve, the strike zone. You want more offense in baseball then insist that umpires call balls and strikes according to the rule book.
IMHO calling balls and strikes in the hardest thing umpires do. If it wasn’t there would be no such thing as pitch framing. The strike zone is where the ball crosses the plate, not where the catcher catches it.
The solution is electronic pitch calling, something I used to be solid against. But watching games and seeing how often it’s called wrong, not just by Joe West and others but by good umpires too, has really changed my thought on it. As you said, accurate calling will result in more offense.
Watching the game we really won’t see anything different. The umpire will still be calling it. He still has to watch for foul tips, catcher’s interference, hit by pitch, etc. If a pitch bounces before the plate and passes through the strike zone the system will call it a strike. Everybody will know it isn’t, but somebody has to call it.
Of course there’s everything the plate umpire does that doesn’t involve calling pitches.
In solid agreement with you that it is time to get serious about technology for strikes and balls, but until then I believe that MLB should restrict poor pitch calling umpires to the bases and pay good home plate umpires more money.
Pace of play. That’s the only reason for these proposed changes. If the umps would only enforce the rules already in place the game would ‘flow’ like Manfred wants –and he wouldn’t feel the need to tweak the rules. Take Kyle Farmer, for example, he will drive somebody in Cincinnati nuts with his constant tinkering of his batting gloves. Just get in the box and be ready to swing! Hey you, Pedro Baez, put ball in hand, look at the catcher’s fingers, throw the ball. It’s not that hard.
As I have said before the DH needs to be in both leagues or neither league at al.. What is STUPID and ludicrous to me is these rules being different for the AL and NL. Baseball has been playing by this rule of only 1 league having the DH since 1973 if i recall. I say make the game a level playing field for BOTH leagues….not just one.