DH debate: Should they stay or should they go now?

BOSTON -- Tony LaRussa was in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway, the New York Times on his desk, Jim Leyland on the phone and a DVD of the Cape Code League on the TV. He pondered the question. Why can't more pitchers hit?

Rick Ankiel: 'We didn't just lose our hand-eye coordination overnight.' (US Presswire)

"We spend as much time working on hitting as any team in the league," the St. Louis manager said. "People don't realize that something, anything from your pitcher can change a game."

During this stretch of interleague play, the age-old argument (OK, only 35 years) has been on full display.

Eliminate the designated hitter, or welcome the National League into the 21st century?

The arguments are passionate and heated, a hot stove league of its own.

"The designated hitter has got to go," said former manager and current broadcaster Buck Martinez. "These guys are great athletes, but you don't see it. They don't take enough swings, so they look like they have no athleticism at all."

He gives you Bartolo Colon as example No. 1. The Red Sox pitcher looked like a chubby flubby at the plate and went on the DL the next day with back spasms.

Rick Ankiel, the most unique player in the majors, said he always liked to hit. Ankiel went from being a starting pitcher (hailed as the next great Cardinal lefty) to hitting cleanup, with some drama and trauma in between.

"Most major league pitchers were the best athlete in high school, and a lot of them were in college," he said. "We didn't just lose our hand-eye coordination overnight. I'd feel I was playing only half the game if I didn't hit."

Back in 1973, Yankee hitter Ron Blomberg got it started in the American League when he went to the plate against Red Sox legend Louis Tiant. Back then, the designated hitters were names like Gates Brown, Rico Carty and Orlando Cepeda. Pitchers were left to perfect the strike zone. Pretty soon, pitchers became inept at the plate.

Last week, the Yankees best pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang, ran the bases for what seemed the first time in his life and wound up on the DL, hobbling from second to home against the Houston Astros.

If every organization, from Little League on up, uses the DH, shouldn't the NL join in?

On the other side, traditionalists say the DH phonies up the game -- why aren't there designated fielders?