As much headache the 2020 season brought to Major League Baseball and its teams, players, coaches, and fans, one of its positive aspects was the implementation of the universal designated hitter. National League teams had different strategies when using the designated hitter for the first time on a regular basis. The Philadelphia Phillies were creative in using the extra spot in the lineup for a hitter to spare them time off from fielding.
Considering the countless numbers of doubleheaders and seemingly next to no days off, it was very valuable. Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen perhaps benefitted the most, with the former Most Valuable Players respectively battling a back injury and return from an ACL injury.
Eleven different Phillies DHs in 2020 combined to produce 22 extra-base hits.
Eleven different Phillies players assumed the DH position in 2020 — McCutchen (16 games), Phil Gosselin (10), Harper (10), Jay Bruce (8), J.T. Realmuto (8), Neil Walker (3), Alec Bohm (1), Rhys Hoskins (1), Jean Segura (1), Kyle Garlick (1), and Andrew Knapp (1). Combined, they slashed .268/.364/.468 across 253 plate appearances — scoring 31 runs and producing 10 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 31 walks and 59 strikeouts.
Essentially, compared to all previous seasons when pitchers hit, fans saw a lot more runs scored, extra-base hits, RBI, and walks produced, coupled with far fewer strikeouts.
As much progress was made toward increasing fan excitement in Major League Baseball with this added offense, that is all being taken away in 2021. As part of the recent protocols agreed for the upcoming season, the universal DH will not return. National League pitchers will once again have to hit when facing other National League teams.
No DH in 2021 feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Forget the injury risk of the pitchers swinging a bat for the first time in nearly two years, consider the thought that once again, they are pretty much an automatic out every time they come up to the plate.
Taking away the DH in 2021 feels like a step back for baseball. Sure, it will be negotiated as part of the next collective bargaining agreement and probably will return for good in 2022. But, why not keep it for 2021?