The National League Needs The Designated Hitter

The most absurd rule in all of professional sports is found in our nation's "pastime". Just like all professional sports baseball is split into two separate conferences or in baseball's case leagues. Yet, baseball is the only professional sports where the two factions operate under two sets of rules, one rule really. 

The designated hitter was introduced to the American League in 1973. In the 40 years since the National League has stuck their collective heads in the sand, and stayed with having pitchers pick up a bat and largely be an embarrassment to the art of hitting. Baseball "purists" argue that this is the way baseball has been played for 130 years and should continued to be played. Yet, I never hear these same voices campaigning to remove the DH rule from the American League. 

The varied use of the DH rule would be like if the NBA's Western Conference used the 23.75 foot three point line, but the Eastern Conference used the collegiate distance 19.75 feet. It would be like if the AFC playing by the new age pass interference rules and the NFC using the more physical play allowing rules from a decade ago. It would be like if the PGA allowed half its players to use drivers and restrict the other half just to driving irons.

For any sports league to operate under two different rules is just asinine.

NL team's pitchers average around .145 from the plate during any given season. Who honestly wants to see that. I watch the MLB to watch PROFESSIONAL baseball. So why not have PROFESSIONAL hitters. Would There is no need to watch proverbial fishes out of water. Who really wants to watch a collective of .145 AVG, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 6 Runs and 11 Total Bases for an entire season. Would you rather not watch .275 AVG, 31 HR, 94 RBI, 82 Runs, and 300 Total Bases. The answer seems pretty simple to me.

Professional sports above all else is entertainment and I am in no way entertained by watching pitchers attempt to hit the ball. I would rather be able to watch 15 more professional hitters in the ilk of David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, Lance Berkman and etc. One of the most exciting plays in all of sports is the long ball. So why wouldn't you want to have 15 more hitters who's talent is exactly that. Why wouldn't you want 15 more hitters who's OBP% is above .350. More men on base = more runs = more fun.

Major League Baseball needs to realize things change. Stop operating under the notion that this is they things have been thus the way things will always be.