Role of the DH changing in today's game

[JonLP24]

The Texas Rangers' signing of free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre makes Michael Young the team's designated hitter, a logical move given how much better Beltre is than Young defensively at third base.

And yet, it just doesn't look or seem right. Young is 34, healthy, durable and athletic, yet he'll be a DH in 2011. It is rare, if not unprecedented, that a player with that many career games at shortstop (788), second base (416) and third base (293) has moved been moved to DH at such a young age. But in its 38th year of existence, the DH isn't what it used to be. It's a position that continues to evolve and could undergo significant change in the coming years.

In 1973, the first year of the DH, eight players were used in 100 games at DH: Frank Robinson, Tony Oliva, Orlando Cepeda, Tommy Davis, Alex Johnson, Deron Johnson, Gates Brown and Jim Ray Hart. All eight fit essentially the same profile: good hitters nearing the end of their careers, most of them done as defensive players. In 1991, 11 players were used in 100 games at DH. But in the past 12 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, there has not been one season in which half the teams had a 100-game DH. Last season, five players were used in 100 games at DH: David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, Travis Hafner, Hideki Matsui and Adam Lind. In 2009, there were only four, the same number in 2008.

The trend is for teams to rotate their DH between several players. In 2010, every American League team used at least 10 players for at least one game at DH. Ten teams used at least 15 different players at DH. The Yankees used 16 DHs. They didn't have even a 50-game DH but used four players for at least 20 games and seven players for at least 10. The White Sox had no 50-game DH; they had four players with at least 20 and eight with at least 10 games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove10/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=6014374

[wilt the stilt]

1. The real downside is at the high school level

There are position players not batting. The DH is perverse.

[caraher]

2. They use the DH in high school?

I didn't know that... what a shame!

[Chan790]

3. I'm a fairly staunch defender of the DH and I agree about HS.

There is no reason for a 16 year old kid to pitch but not bat or bat and not field. It's about skills development at that level.

[wilt the stilt]

4. You must be removed fron high School

at least in Georgia where it is all about winning.