It is safe to say that I rarely agree with Hank
Steinbrenner, who is part of the new New York Yankees braintrust (does that
qualify as an oxymoron?). However, I share his sentiment about National League
baseball. The senior circuit needs to incorporate the designated hitter.

Steinbrenner would like to see the DH added in the National
League for selfish purposes. Chien-Ming Wang is out until September after
injuring his ankle while running the bases last weekend in interleague play. I
prefer that the NL introduce the DH for entertainment reasons. Simply put, NL
baseball is not as exciting as the AL brand.

Even in the 1970s and 1980s, when the NL was superior in
overall talent to the AL,
the game was more exciting in the junior circuit. Steinbrenner doesn't want to
see his pitchers run the bases. Terry Francona doesn't want to see hit pitchers
swing the bat, especially after Bartolo Colon was placed on the 15-day disabled
list due to back stiffness attributed to his at-bats in interleague play. I don't
want to see pitchers hit because it detracts from the drama of the game.

Simply put, pitchers are not challenged in the NL like they
are in the American League. Look at many NL rosters and you will see a
light-hitting batter in the No. 8 spot and the pitcher at No.9, unless you are
Tony LaRussa of the St. Louis Cardinals and bat the pitcher No. 8. This is one
reason why the AL
is superior to the NL right now. AL
pitchers are accustomed to facing daunting lineups from top to bottom . NL
pitchers are not, and they are less effective during interleague play and
post-season play in AL
ballparks.

The fans are the main reason Major League Baseball should
incorporate the DH in the NL. It is not interesting to watch a pitcher hit,
especially during a two-out rally. People who do not like baseball criticize
the game for being too slow and not having enough action. It is more
challenging for the pitcher, and more entertaining for the fan, to have a
lineup from 1-9 composed of true hitters.

In August, Major League Baseball might debut instant replay
to review questionable home run calls, which is long overdue. Perhaps in the
off-season, the league and its owners will consider adding the DH in the
National League, which is also long overdue. Traditionalists will fight this,
but many of these same traditionalists opposed interleague play when it was
introduced but now favor the schedule.

Baseball is a great game, and to remain that way, it needs
to adapt with the times. Watching a pitcher at the plate is boring. Challenging
a pitcher with nine hitters is entertaining and makes the game more attractive
to fans.