why does the AL get designated hitters for their pitchers when the NL does not?
479866
A designated hitter (often shortened to "DH"), is an official position adopted by Major League Baseball's American League in 1973 that allowed teams to boost sagging offensive performances by designating a player to bat in place of the pitcher. It should be noted that no team is required to use a DH.\n\nThe designated hitter may not play a field position and he may only be replaced by another player not currently in the lineup. However, the designated hitter may change positions to become a position player at any point during the game. However, if he does so, his team forfeits the role of the designated hitter. Thus, the pitcher or a pinch hitter must bat in the newly-opened spot in the batting order.\n\nThe rationale was that, with a few exceptions, pitchers are usually weak hitters. Babe Ruth was an outstanding all-around player; a prolific hitter who had begun his career as an equally prolific pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, and soon began playing in the field on days he did not pitch. However, Ruth was eventually made a full-time outfielder during his first year as a member of the New York Yankees, 1920, and pitched very sporadically afterward.\n\nOn April 6, 1973, first baseman Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, facing Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Luis Tiant in his first plate appearance. "Boomer" Blomberg was walked.\n\nStrategically, the designated hitter offers American League managers two primary options: they can either rotate the role among players, using left-handed hitting DHs against right-handed pitchers and vice-versa, or they can employ a full-time designated hitter. The adoption of the designated hitter rule has virtually eliminated the use of the double switch in the American League.\n\nOn June 12, 1997, San Francisco Giants outfielder Glenallen Hill became the first National League player to be the DH in a regular-season game against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington, Texas (now Ameriquest Field in Arlington). When the Milwaukee Brewers moved from the AL to the NL in 1998, the Brewers no longer used the DH on a regular basis.
328686
The old American League Washington team was called both the Nationals and the Senators at various times in their history.  Even when they were the Senators, newspaper vernacular referred to them as the "Nats" in their headlines in the same way that the Red Sox are called the Bosox and the Yankees are called the Yanks.  Being an old time baseball traditionalist, I don't mind the Nationals being called that.  In fact, it makes more sense now that they are in the National League.
458170
They do have doubleheaders in baseball, sometimes its due to a game that may have been canceled due to weather or something.  So they have to make that game up, usually when the team is in town again.  But, unless you have tickets to both games your not going to see both games.  What they do is honor the tickets for the date the game was suppose to be played and those people get in, but then have to leave when the regular scheduled game is going to begin.  If you love watching baseball you don't mind 3 hour games, if the game is going that long then your seeing one of two things, either greet pitching/defense or great hitting, most of the time its great pitching/defense.
349407
One main reason is that KC's a small market team with comparatively "small pockets", compared to NY, Boston, the White Sox, etc.  That hampers them, and forces them to give up players like Beltran who they can't afford once they've been in the league for a while.\n\nWhile a few small market teams -- like the A's and Twins - have made pretty good runs of late - they've had very creative, strong GMs, etc.
520173
Just run down the list, Giambi, Junior Griffey, Thome, Dunn, Bonds.  All these guys get the shift but none of them hits to the opposite field.  One reason is they're paid to hit long balls, not dribblers to the opposite field.  The other reason that he won't do it is because he can't unless it's a mistake.  All these hitters have this problem.  You defend against a hitter based on his scouting report.  The tape doesn't lie.  I don't like the shift but it has become an effective way to keep your team in the game.
350707
They need to play smallball and trade away some of their high cost power hitters. They need players like Scott Rolen that can play good Defense and get timely hits to the gaps. Their pitching is OK, but could use another starter or a long reliever to eat innings.
373814
They are negated, a game and it's accompaning stats are not official until after the fifth inning.\nI hope that helps.
625228
No hits and no walks (intentional or not)Simply, nobody gets on base.\nNo hits only is "a no hitter" (Walks are allowed)
382592
Maybe you broke some rule.  Email the person in charge of the league or in charge of fantasy baseball to see if you can resolve things.
570444
unfortunately I think the yankees are because they have a deeper bench, better hitters and pitchers.\nI must say though that answering this question like this really hurts because I am a red sox fan.\nBut the reality of it is, is that the rsd sox have deminished their position players to much, and they really only have two maybe three quality hitters in their line up now.
1029433
Greetings from the Yahoo Brain in New York City!  \nHope you're watching the live Answers webcast at http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\n\nI know many teams employ a seemingly random rotation between the second baseman and the shortstop, so as to keep the opposing batters guessing as to where the hole would be.\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
471109
they have the best linup in the nl, but they need another starting pitcher to make a world series run.\np.s. braves are dead
306937
Without going into a 4-page dissertation on the history of the sport, the main difference between the two leagues is that the American League has the designated hitter rule.  This lets each team have someone in the lineup who doesn't play the field; they just bat.  Since pitchers are generally the weakest hitters, their position in the lineup is usually occupied by the designated hitter.  Since the National League doesn't have the designated hitter, pitchers bat for themselves.
375974
The Twins are done. They have no possible chance to win their division with the vast improvements of the Tigers and Indians, and you still got the Defending Champs in your division. The AL is a strong conference. You can look at the east, the west and you see major improvements from teams like the blue jays, seattle, and you still got the incubent powerhouses like the red sox, yankees, angels, and the athetics. they wont have a shot at the wild card either. As far as Liriano goes, they better put him in the rotation. He is the best pitching prospect today, even better than King Felix. Scott Baker is not doing a good job in the fifth spot of the rotation so i think they should let Liriano do what he can do!
502317
A few reasons. 1). The five man rotation which cuts down a pitcher's starts to around 30-32 games a season. Up until the start of the 162 game era, pitchers could routinely pitch 38-40+ games a year. Cy Young started 906 games in his 20+ years as a pitcher. 2). To protect their multi-million $ investments, teams "baby" their pitchers so they rarely pitch on less than 3-4 days rest or throw in between starts. Which leads to 3). More time on the DL (and less starts) because they don't throw as much to build up arm strength and brings us to 4).The pitch count. You think Warren Spahn was ever pulled after throwing 110 pitches? Which gave birth to 5). The advent of the middle relief specialists. You can thank Tony LaRussa for bringing in a left handed reliever in the 7th to face one batter. Go 8 innings with the lead and you control your chance to win. Get pulled in the 6th or 7th and you leave it to a guy who couldn't cut it as a starter. A 20 game winner used to be the gold standard. Now it's 15. Who said today's players are much better than the players from the past?
488658
They should and it would cut out a lot of games in division races.  A team in any division plays another team in that same divison at least 15-20 times a year.  It would be great to see for example the Yanks against the Houston Astros instead of them seeing each other every three years if possible.  \n\nThe downside is the traveling would wear the players down but then again they do play 162 games a year.  Hope you're reading this Bud Selig (needs to go immediately!!!)
331257
The NL was the first league, playing in the late 1800s. A bunch of teams formed the AL in 1900-1901 as a rival league. As baseball expanded, they added teams where it made the most sense. For instance, the Seattle Mariners are in the AL because the old Seattle Pilots were in the AL. In other cases, an area (like L.A.) would already have an NL team, so they added an AL team (the Angels) because they didn't want two teams in the same league so close together. That's why the two Florida teams are in different leagues, for instance.