I don't really see how its a major inconvenience. Teams will have to adjust their roster for DH/no-DH. Teams have to adjust their roster for a host of other issues - burnt-out bullpens, injuries, doubleheaders, etc.

What, exactly, is the rationale for keeping the
rules different in each league?

Because some people like the DH, while others hate it, and a diversity of styles is fun.

Every goddam BTF DH debate summarized in 59 short seconds.

This is the exact reason that I would love for two things to happen 1. second game of ever interleague series is played with the visitor rules. 2. increase the roster size, but have only 25 players available per series. (similar to hockey where they have healthy scratches, but instead of it being a game time decision, it's a series decision, and you are allowed three healthy scratches)

2. increase the roster size, but have only 25 players available per series. (similar to hockey where they have healthy scratches, but instead of it being a game time decision, it's a series decision, and you are allowed three healthy scratches)

I like the idea, but wouldn't they usually be the two starting pithcers who aren't going to throw (in a three gane series)?

I like the idea, but wouldn't they usually be the two starting pithcers who aren't going to throw (in a three gane series)?

Yes. That is somewhat the purpose, the 'dead' starting pitchers are just taking up bench space and is only useful for emergency pinch hitting appearances, or baserunning, there really is no reason for them to be on the roster at that point in time. Pull them off, and that allows the team to have a specialist position player or a larger pen. Then the third spot is used for day to day injuries to truly rest a player without having to put him on the dl.

If the new schedule forces teams to carry DHs that can actually play the field, good for them.

Teams currently play between 15 to 18 interleague games a year. The new schedule will feature 20 interleague games. All that really means is that an AL team will have to play 1 to 3 more games without a DH while the NL will have to play 1 to 3 more games with a DH. That isn't really going to alter anybody's roster construction.

Alfonso Soriano is available. His presence alone could solve all or any of these issues!

Teams currently play between 15 to 18 interleague games a year. The new schedule will feature 20 interleague games.

But ... but ... but they'll be playing interleague every DAY, man!

All that really means is that an AL team will have to play 1 to 3 more games without a DH while the NL will have to play 1 to 3 more games with a DH. That isn't really going to alter anybody's roster construction.

Assuming an even breakdown of home-away tilts, AL teams will be playing just one extra game without a DH in their 2013 interleague matchups. Five NL teams will play four extra games with a DH in 2013 as they did in 2012, the other 10 would play just one extra game with a DH. The Astros will play 146 more games with a DH in 2013, but I think they may be an outlier.

Perhaps I'm being obtuse here, but isn't the issue that many rules on roster moves were expressly designed to prevent shuffling players on and off the roster for just one series? When players are removed from the 25 man roster, they have to stay off for at least 10 days if sent to the minors and at least 15 if placed on the disabled list.

So if you're an AL team with a trip to an NL ballpark coming up, you certainly can replace your 13th pitcher with a fifth outfielder, but you can't have that pitcher back for a couple of weeks. When you have three or four interleague series in a row there's no problem - you wanted to keep the extra outfielder around for the whole time - but if you have one interleague series followed by four intraleague series followed by another interleague series it's a different story. It may turn out to just not be worth the trouble anymore.

Teams can just swap their worst reliever for a DH type when necessary. It doesn't really matter whether an organization uses its seventh or eighth best reliever as a mop-up man for a week.

The perfect blending of AL and NL rules for interleague play next year: Both teams use the DH, but he must bat 9th in the order.

Expand by two teams. Ban interleague forevermore, world wide, at every level. New rule, pitchers can only bunt, and must work on this skill exclusively in batting practice. Begin removing all traces of evidence that such a thing as the DH existed, up to and including airbrushing Edgar Martinez and Harold Baines likenesses from team photos. "Re-education" camps in every city, town and incorporated village with a baseball diamond to deal with the dissenters. Groups of reformed dissenters can then be sent out as ground crews to work on the vast American baseball diamond archipelago.

See, we can have uniformity in baseball and purify our precious bodily fluids!

If pitchers could only bunt, teams would play all of their defenders in the infield and turn every bunt into a double or triple play.

Every goddam BTF DH debate summarized in 59 short seconds.

Tastes great!

If pitchers could only bunt, teams would play all of their defenders in the infield and turn every bunt into a double or triple play.

Yeah, that's the hole in charity's plan.

And why does every ballpark look different? IT IS MADNESS!

Perhaps I'm being obtuse here, but isn't the issue that many rules on roster moves were expressly designed to prevent shuffling players on and off the roster for just one series?

You're not being obtuse, that is one of the main points of the roster rules. I'm just not sure how much that is really needed in this day and age. My proposal was originally intended to increase the number of position players on the rosters, since the advent of the 12 man pitching staff has pushed the specialist(i.e. very fun to watch) players out of the game. It's a compromise proposal being that it's based upon series's instead of individual games, and you are limited by your choices of the players on your 28 man active roster(the active roster would be treated the same as it always was, just making it 28 man, and adding a playing roster per series of 25 men)

I do understand that NL hardcore/anti-dh fans would probably hate the option, because then you are missing those great opportunities where the pitcher comes in as an emergency pinch hitter and drives in a run(see last nights Cardinal game) but ultimately I think my proposal would be beneficial for the game, the fans and the players(sucks for the owners, but it's only affecting 3 fringe players anyway)

again, everything simplifies with an 8-man lineup

jake simpson should take a long walk offn a short pier

why is it good to extend the careers of players who aren't good enough to play baseball - other than THEM making more money?

you want equality - get RID of the (swear word) DH - a position that even the PLAYERS hate to play.

and yes, jake and his little kiddie-poo friends need to get the eff offn my lawn and yes i know that bud selig is determined to completely ruin baseball and that in a few years there won't BE any baseball left, just DH ball

The DH sucks and always has. I'm always astounded that anyone approves of that abomination outside the league offices and players union.

The DH sucks and always has. I'm always astounded that anyone approves of that abomination outside the league offices and players union

I'm more astounded that people allow the existence of the DH to raise their blood pressure one iota. It's a guy batting for the pitcher, what's the big deal?