Gaston: Use DH in All Interleague Games

PHILADELPHIA – Even before Tuesday night's game, Cito Gaston was calling for the designated hitter in all interleague games.

And then the Blue Jays manager got even more of a reason to push for a rule change.

Toronto closer Scott Downs suffered an injury to his left foot pushing out of the batter's box while grounding out in the top of the 10th inning. Gaston allowed Downs to hit because he had a five-run lead at that point and only his backup catcher left on the bench.

"I know that a lot of people like this interleague play," Gaston said, "I know it's great for the fans and all that, but that's what happens. My guys don't take batting practice every day. They don't run. So things like this are going to happen until somebody wakes up and says, 'Look, let's just play [with] the DH all the time or call it off.' "

An X-ray taken Tuesday was negative, but Downs is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday, and the way he was limping after the game, the disabled list seems like a strong possibility.

Downs, who took over as closer in late April, is 8-for-9 in save chances with a 1.98 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.

The Jays already have used the DL for a pitcher six times this year, with Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan and Jesse Litsch all still out.

"What else can we do? Jeez," Gaston said. "It's just one of those years where you lose everybody."

The Yankees might agree with Gaston's proposal. Chien-Ming Wang suffered a foot injury running the bases last year in Houston, missed the rest of the season and hasn't been the same this year.

Jays starter Ricky Romero on Tuesday had his first three at-bats since high school and said, "It's pretty tough. ... That's the one thing that they told me before I went up: 'Don't get hurt.' "

When Yankees co-chairperson Hank Steinbrenner called for the DH in the National League after Wang's injury, he was mocked.

Will Gaston's words carry more weight?

"Interleague play is certainly good for the fans," he said more than five hours before Downs' injury, "so you can't bark on it. I just think they should have the DH no matter where you're playing. Because it's a little bit unfair, I think, for American League teams. And it's unsafe for the [AL] pitchers."

Unfortunately, those words were prescient.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-17-2009 @ 1:13AM

joeylarge said...

I think using a DH in all interleague games is not right. These are athletes they should be able to swing a bat. They swung a bat in college and high school. They should still be able to swing the bat. They get payed millions invest in a batting cage. How would the Worls Series look with a DH the whole time. It wouldnt be the same. If you change it for interleague you got to change it for the whole league. Whats going to be next to have a net in front of the pitcher so he doesnt have to field the ball come on. Swing a bat or dont play.

6-17-2009 @ 1:48AM

Brent Schmidt said...

The Angels have hit a home run in each of the past two games immediately after the pitcher got a hit (their first, for both Lackey and O'Sullivan). So I say no... lol.

6-17-2009 @ 3:38AM

Martin said...

The DH is a horrible rule and should be abolished as it eliminates a lot of the strategy from the game. Interleague play isn't fair in the standings, as some teams end up with tougher schedules than other teams in their own division. Thus, they should either eliminate interleague play or treat those games as exhibition games, in which case they can use the DH rule.

6-17-2009 @ 3:52AM

menta1math said...

"I know it's great for the fans and all that, but that's what happens. My guys don't take batting practice every day. They don't run."

Perhaps they should. They are baseball players after all.

6-17-2009 @ 10:44AM

cnjfan1000 said...

There is a much simpler solution. Just get rid of the DH in the American League and play baseball the way it was meant to be played. Then the pitchers will have to stay in shape.

6-17-2009 @ 11:35AM

Donut King said...

Alright . . . DH in BOTH league's ballparks, DH in NEITHER league's ballparks, or DH in NL ballparks with no DH in AL ballparks. Choose one, and choose wise. Then again, I'm being logical. No way Bud falls for THIS trap!

6-17-2009 @ 4:29PM

meta531 said...

I am in favor of eliminating the DH. That will not happen. Here is a compromise that would work. A team in both American and National leagues can only use a DH for 2 at bats per game. In this way it would increase strategy. The manager would have to decide when to use the DH, ALL pitchers should run and do batting practice in all levels. They are athletes.... Maybe in time pitchers can become baseball players, but it has to start in HS level.

6-17-2009 @ 4:46PM

Steve said...

There is a reason that there is an AL and NL. they have separate rules for a reason. giving the dh to an AL team in an NL park eliminates that strategical advantage of play for the NL team. But I have to agree with other commentators that the AL pitchers should run the bases and swing more often. Hey, I don't see many NL pitchers getting hurt, do you?

6-17-2009 @ 11:35PM

kelpie1314 said...

If Cito is so worried about his pitchers getting hurt while batting, why, in the top of the 8th with a 6-run lead would he instruct his starting pitcher to go up and bunt? Perhaps with a lead that size he should instruct said starting pitcher to go up and stand there and not get hurt.