Max Scherzer of The Washington Nationals doesn’t get it

USA Today

So Max Scherzer wants the designated hitter rule MLB-wide.

Tough beans, Scherzer. It ain’t going to happen.

Scherzer, who is making a chunk of change pitching for the Washington Nationals, jammed his right wrist and thumb last week during his team’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. While it was dramatic live television, as a baseball aficionado I don’t like seeing it happen. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, pitcher or otherwise, regardless of the team.

But at the same time, guess what? That’s part of the game. Injuries happen. To everyone. No matter the position on the field, no matter who’s up to bat.

Following his injury, Scherzer called out his approval of the DH being instituted in the National League as well as the American League:

“Who would people rather see, a real hitter hitting home runs or a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper? Both leagues need to be on the same set of rules.” tweet

I couldn’t agree more with Scherzer’s statement — both leagues do need to be on the same set of rules: Nine men on the field … and those same nine men at the plate. In other words, the original set of rules, not the DH set.

Baseball is a game of finesse. A game of inches. A game of thought. (And those of you who say it’s boring don’t get baseball. It’s not your thing. And that’s okay.)

Baseball is also a game of incredible plays. And monster hitting feats.

And? It’s a game of unknowns and what ifs. It’s a game where a scope of wide-ranging injuries can happen — minor injuries, career-ending injuries and everything in between.

But guess what? That’s part of the game. All of the above. Including the injuries. I don’t think Max Scherzer understands that. That puzzles me. Didn’t he know that going in? Didn’t he realize the possibility of getting hurt before crossing the street from the DH happy American League to the National League for all that money? I can only assume he did not.

As a baseball fan, who would I rather see hitting, Max? Let me pull out my soapbox …

I want to see that home run hitter hit a big, fat dinger far up into the stands just as much as the next guy.

But the true baseball aficionado in me wants to see the underdog do it, too.

Even more, I want to see a pitcher who has thrown a masterful game come to the plate, down a run and with a man on, launch a shot over the wall causing the stadium to explode on their their feet in cheers and applause.

Just as much, I want to see a pitcher lay down a sweet and unexpected sacrifice bunt to bring his team mate home for the go-ahead run.

Equally so, I want to see the opposing pitcher challenge my pitcher to series of pitches resulting in a contest of wills and, ultimately, a base on balls call to set up a possible win. Because, as difficult as it is for a pitcher to hit the ball, it’s just as challenging to lay off hitting a ball. Besides, nothing is more frustrating to an opposing pitcher than walking the other team’s (often) weakest batter.

And you know what? I’ve seen each one of the above scenarios time and time and time and time again. For years. And at each of those moments? There’s nary a hint of desire inside me hankering for a designated hitter to come to the plate.

In other words, I want to see what kind of mettle a pitcher has in the batter’s box as well as when he’s on the mound. Yeah, he’s been hired to fireball strikes and bend curve balls in the grand scheme of things. But there’s nothing saying he can’t produce at the plate. Because that makes the game all the sweeter.

Max Scherzer doesn’t get that. That may be what he thinks American League fans want. It’s not what National League fans want. (Even the San Francisco Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner had words for Scherzer.)

And you’re in the National League now, Scherzer. Suck it up and earn your pay and get up to bat.