Baseball: American League or National?

[jonatas]

Ok, I'm a casual baseball fan. Having lived half my life in Canada, I've watched alot of Toronto games, and been to the Skydome/Rogers center a half dozen times, and watched the Expos too. My question is, do you prefer the American League or the National?

Myself, I'd rather gouge my eyes out than watch a National League game. I just hate it. It doesn't seem like real baseball. You have the weird rule where pitchers have to hit, and the American league usually wins the championship. But give me an American League game, and I can watch it and enjoy the rivalries too. American League East is where it's at. Do you find that odd, or do you have a similar bias? Discuss.

Edit: A poll will be coming.

 

[jonatas]

Is anyone gonna weigh in on this? Am I alone in thinking the American League is real baseball?

 

[Lambert Simnel]

National League is the real thing, my friend. The fielders have to bat, so why not the pitcher ? Put it another way, if you can have a DH rather than asking the pitcher to bat, then why not the same for the catcher, or the shortstop, or anywhere where you're more concerned about their defensive capabilities.

The American league is a short step towards the NFL - platoon everyone. Does that appeal ? I guess it might to an AL fan....

A different angle - strategy. You've a lot more decisions to make as a coach in the NL (and thus a lot more to second guess as a fan). When the pitcher is coming up to bat in the 6th, do you pinch hit for him ? What about the 7th ? Or even the 5th, if he's been struggling ? Flip side, if the opposing pitcher is on a roll, are you prepared to pitch around number 8 slightly more than usual, cos you know they won't be pulling him for a pinch hitter (or if they do, then it's worked in your favour) ? In the AL, well, you just have your best 9 hitters in the lineup and you leave 'em out there. Leave your starter in as long as he's effective, and don't worry about doing a double swap to move the replacement pitcher's spot to being the last one who batted in your previous inning. There are just so many more things to think about in the NL, you see. Probably more of a thinking man's game

Hope that clarifies.

 

[Irish Caesar]

National League is better baseball. It's the real thing. Then why did I vote for the AL?

Sox-Yankees.

 

[downtown]

The NL is more "real" I guess....but Cleveland is in the AL, so i vote for them.

 

[pboily]

National League. Hands down.

 

[RedFusion]

National League is the real thing, my friend. The fielders have to bat, so why not the pitcher ? Put it another way, if you can have a DH rather than asking the pitcher to bat, then why not the same for the catcher, or the shortstop, or anywhere where you're more concerned about their defensive capabilities.

Actually the DH doesn't have to replace the pitcher, he can hit in the spot of any fielder. But if he replaces the catcher or shortstop, then the pitcher has to hit.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Actually the DH doesn't have to replace the pitcher, he can hit in the spot of any fielder. But if he replaces the catcher or shortstop, then the pitcher has to hit.

Sorry, I did realise that. Practically speaking, however, I'm sure you agree that it's always the pitcher in the majors.

 

[El Justo]

natl league baseball is far more strategic than american league baseball.

i don't care for the DH either.

 

[The Yankee]

Myself, I'd rather gouge my eyes out than watch a National League game. I just hate it. It doesn't seem like real baseball. You have the weird rule where pitchers have to hit

That 'weird rule' was the standard for both major leagues until around 1973 or 1974, when the American League adopted the designated hitter.

But, since I love my Yankees, American League is where it's at.

 

[jonatas]

That 'weird rule' was the standard for both major leagues until around 1973 or 1974, when the American League adopted the designated hitter.

Yes I'm aware of that. The American League was always more willing to try new things.

@the NL supporters
All this talk of strategy is what I would just call small ball. I mean pitchers are just awful hitters. Why make them hit? Catchers and Shortstops can still hit decently, but pitchers generally can't. Yes there are a lot more variables because the DH isn't there, but all these variables are based on a very weak hitting position in the line-up. I don't see the glory in it

 

[El Justo]

it's not a matter of glory...instead, it's a 'purity' issue for me. i mean, it is artificial to have another player hit for the pitcher and if i may add, the DH is usually a player who can not play the field. when i say 'can't', i mean that he is likely defensively inept.

'small ball':
yes! precisiely! i prefer sacrifice bunts, double switches, hit-and-runs, etc. the AL relies too much on the long ball for my tastes. at least that is the stereotypical norm for the AL.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Like, what El J said.

Don't get me wrong, I love Home Runs - Pujols, although perhaps not a god, has certainly something of the semi-divine about him. But HRs need to be part of the equation, not the whole answer.

 

[El Justo]

Like, what El J said.

Don't get me wrong, I love Home Runs - Pujols, although perhaps not a god, has certainly something of the semi-divine about him. But HRs need to be part of the equation, not the whole answer.

yes Mr. Simnel, i also like HRs but not exclusively.

there is something more pure about pitching around the 8-hole hitter, relying on your pitcher to get the runner over, and 'turning the lineup over'. the AL doesn't have to worry about such things...

 

[dgfred]

I'm kind of torn between the DH and no-DH . I think the NL has
way more coaching involved....... but most of the pitchers REALLY suck at
hitting (which I don't really understand either, since most were superstars at
hitting and pitching in their early ball-playing days) Both seem to work well,
so I don't really think that the other will ever change.

 

[El Justo]

but most of the pitchers REALLY suck at
hitting (which I don't really understand either, since most were superstars at
hitting and pitching in their early ball-playing days)

maybe it's those 95 mph fast balls or the filthy 12-to-6 curve balls or those frisbee sliders

seriously though...i think that the only redeeming quality of the DH is that it allows for certain players to extend their careers (Edgar Martinez and Paul Molitor come to mind). aside from that, i see little value in the DH position although i like it when the Phils get to use one in inter-league games. but outside of that, i don't particularly care for the AL format.

ADDIT: it used to be, back in the day (dgfred and Whomp may recall this notion), that the NL was known for their hard throwing pitchers while the AL was known for their slop. this isn't really the case any longer but it may hold true up to maybe the late 80s/early 90s.

 

[El Justo]

another note on the differences:

it dawned on me last night after watching Angels pitch John Lackey come in on A's catcher Jason Kendall...

AL pitchers can buzz and plunk at will and not have to worry about getting hit their damn selves as they don't get to bat.

this is not the case in the NL.

 

[DBear]

AL games are boring.

Go Cardinals!

 

[Plexus]

I admit that I think the idea of a DL is stupid and having the pitcher bat adds a whole new level of strategy, that said, my heart will forever be with the AL and the Angels - AL games are usually more exciting for me to watch because they are more relevant to my home team.

And Jason Kendall is an ass for charging the mound.

 

[pacesplace]

I see this board is dead, but Sports Illustrated did an article on who was better a while back... The average American League team could make the NL side of the playoffs almost every year, that's how lop-sided it is.