The only rule difference between the American League and the National League is that in the National League the pitchers must bat like the position players and in the American League a designated hitter may bat for the pitcher or for a position player. The designated hitter does not play the field like all other position players, as well as the pitcher. This one rule difference results in many differences between games played with American and National League rules.
In the National League, pitchers take more batting practice than in the American League. Pitchers are trained to bat in the National League; particularly to advance base runners with a sacrifice bunt. Still, to some extent, American League pitchers practice batting since they are forced to bat in road interleague baseball games and in road games during the World Series and All Star Game; should they be lucky enough to play in these games.
Furthermore, offenses are more potent in games played with American League rules, because the designated hitters are almost always better hitters than the pitchers. Even if they are not, a team can either choose to utilize a designated hitter for a weak hitting position player or to decline to utilize a designated hitter; should all of the fielding players be better batters than the bench players. This last option always rules out the possibility that a team can benefit offensively without the installation of a designated hitter in the line-up.
Also, an American League team generally plays better defensively than a National League team; because an American League team may utilize a poor fielding but strong hitting position player as the designated hitter; therefore, improving the team’s defense as well as the team’s offense. This overlooked point might actually lead to reduced scoring in an American League game respective to the scoring in a National League game.
Another difference that increases the average scoring in games played with National League rules relative to games played with American League rules is the reduced effectiveness of a pitcher’s pitching resulting from the fact that a pitcher pitching with National League rules must concentrate on hitting as well as pitching. This leads to an increase in the number of runs scored in a game played with National League rules relative to the number of runs scored in a game played with American League rules.
Still, in reality, there is on average more runs scored with the existence of a designated hitter. The improvement in a team’s offense that occurs in a game played with American League rules outweighs the other two less obvious results that lead to lower scoring games with American League rules. Furthermore, the role of the manager in games played with National League rules is increased relative to the role of the manager in games played with American League rules; because the manager must decide whether or not to pinch hit for the pitcher and when to utilize a double switch; in games played with National League rules. Furthermore, one reason why starting pitchers on average pitch less innings in games played with National League rules than starting pitchers in games played with American League rules, because pitchers pitching with National League rules may be lifted for a pinch hitter or pinch runner prematurely if his team is losing late in a baseball game. However, American League pitchers on average pitch fewer innings than National League pitchers due to the fact that the average offensive production in games played with a designated hitter is considerably greater than the average offensive production in games played without a designated hitter; resulting in longer innings on average in games played with American League rules as opposed to games played with National League rules. Consequently, starting pitchers in games played with National League rules pitch fewer pitches on average per/inning than starting pitchers in games played with American League rules. The total number of innings pitched by a starting pitcher pitching with National League rules relative to the total number of innings pitched by a starting pitcher pitching with American League rules is unpredictable. It depends on the existing circumstances other than the difference in rules.
There are other hidden facts that result from the existence of American League rules. The defensive advantage of a team playing with American League rules that lowers the total scoring of teams playing with American League rules relative to the total scoring of teams playing with National League rules is irrelevant on the number of Home Runs hit by all of Major League Baseball. “It is impossible to defense power.” Furthermore, fewer errors are committed in games played with American League rules than in games played with National League rules, because of the improved defenses in games played with American League rules.
Furthermore, there are multiple factors to be considered that can lead to a decrease in the ratio of position players to pitchers that a team chooses to maintain on its roster. Two reinforcing factors that affect the ratio of position players to pitchers in Major League Baseball include: There is a reduced need for pinch hitters on American League teams leading to a lower ratio of position players relative to pitchers in the American League, and there is a greater need for pitchers relative to position players in the American League due to the longer length of the innings in games played with a designated hitter. Oppositely, more pitchers are needed relative to position players in games played with National League rules than in games played with American League rules due to the fact that more pitchers are removed from a game when the pitchers are pinched hit for or pinch run for. However, pitchers can pitch more often in the National League than in the American League, because National League pitchers on average pitch shorter outings than American League pitchers. Evidence seems to indicate that the ratio of pitchers to position players is relatively equal for most teams during most time intervals. Furthermore, the fact that each team plays eighteen interleague games prevents a team from significantly changing the composition of the team in terms of position players and pitchers. Injuries to key players have a larger effect on the composition of a team than the difference in the rules.
There is a tendency for a higher percentage of runs to be scored on Home Runs in games played with National League rules relative to games played with American League rules, because it is harder for teams in games played with National League rules to sustain a rally than for teams in games played with American League rules. This is due to the fact that pitchers frequently reduce the quantity of sustained rallies with their ineffective hitting. However, the very existence of a designated hitter greatly increases the ratio of runs scored on Home Runs relative to runs scored otherwise; because designated hitters are frequently power hitters with limited fielding ability. Consequently, the ratio of runs scored on Home Runs relative to runs scored otherwise is not readily determinable by the rule change alone.
Two additional points must be reconsidered. It is a fact that most National League pitchers hit better than most American League pitchers. However, is the added practice that National League pitchers receive batting that improves their hitting or is it their batting skills that cause them to settle in the National League. Which came first, “The chicken or the egg?” Furthermore, most designated hitters are poor fielders relative to position players. Are they naturally poor fielders or does their reduced fielding under game situations that reduces their effectiveness in the field. Which came first, “The chicken or the egg?”
Michael K.
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