New idea for DH: Break tradition while keeping tradition

Two big bats have officially left the National League for long-term deals that certainly will end with them being designated hitters.

It’s a scary thought for the National League, which has been holding off from adding the designated hitter for many years.

For the American League and the Players Association, it’s a win-win — big contracts for Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, and the guarantee that the DH will not be leaving the American League anytime soon.

That’s what these deals did. There’s no way the Players Association would allow the DH to disappear at this point.

So, that leaves only two other options: Leave it as it is or make a universal DH in both leagues.

Leaving the system alone is the easiest thing to do because it has been in place for so long, but there has been an outcry for symmetry between the two Leagues. The American League fans want a universal DH and the National League traditionalists cannot bear the thought of a DH creeping into their lineups.

I know because I’m one of those fans who enjoy the strategy of having the pitcher holding a bat at some point during the game.

That’s why I have a novel idea that I haven’t heard anyone discuss, and it’s a win-win for both sides.

Let’s make the DH universal in both Leagues, but at the same time, let’s keep the pitchers in the batting lineup.

I know, I know. The math doesn’t work out. That’s why we’ll have to change the numbers in the lineup.

Instead of the traditional nine-man lineup, make it 10.

This will keep the strategy in the game, while at the same time allow for players to become DHs when they can no longer play the field on an everyday basis.

I believe it is important to keep guys like Vladimir Guerrero and Johnny Damon in the game because they can still hit. Guerrero batted .290 last season when everyone thought he was done.

The DH allowed both Guerrero and Damon to keep going, along with many others.

Just as it will allow Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols to keep playing through their incredibly long contracts.

Now 10 batters in the lineup may seem drastic, and of course the traditionalists will be upset, but if the DH becomes universal, what’s the difference? In both scenarios, traditionalists are upset.

But only in one does the traditional National League strategy remain.