The DH is stupid, as we were reminded today

By John D. Pierce

The designated hitter rule that infests half of baseball has no redeeming value other than keeping a few overpriced players in the game a bit longer. If you can’t play in the field you shouldn’t get to bat (except as a pinch hitter).

There is no reasonable debate; this debacle strips away much of the game’s strategy — turning American League managers into little more than lineup keepers. Pitchers, if they can’t hit, at least should learn to bunt to help their cause.

However, some pitchers — like Madison Bumgarmer — can do both well. In addition to throwing several perfect innings today he hit two home runs.

It is the first time in Major League history that a pitcher has homered twice on Opening Day. What a shame if he pitched in the American League with its ridiculous DH and had been sitting on the bench.

Bum is the latest (though unneeded) case against the horrid rule — but far from the first. And the case has nothing to do with how well or poorly pitchers can hit. Everyone should find joy in watching Bartolo Colón take his swings.

The greatest case against the DH (that preceded arrival of the disease in 1973) was made by Braves’ pitcher Tony Cloninger, who hit two grand slams in the same game on July 3, 1966. As if that was not enough, he also drove in a run with a single for a game total of nine RBI. (I remember clipping the article from the sports page of the Chattanooga Free-Press.)

The multi-homer games by Cloninger and Bumgarner are separated by more than half a century — but with some commonalities. Bum hit his homers today (though in a losing cause) for the San Francisco Giants; Cloninger did his damage for the newly-minted Atlanta Braves against the Giants in old Candlestick Park.

Both men hail from the same part of North Carolina, up around Hickory, where they must build hitting pitchers as strong as furniture.

Those who run Major League Baseball are always tinkering with the rules. But for goodness sake, please don’t ever bring the horrendous designated hitter to the National League.

If so, Bum might hit you up side the head with his 34.5 inch, 33.5 ounce maple bat. And I’ll be there to cheer him on.