Rob Manfred On DH In National League: 'Do Not Foresee Going To A Universal Rule'
(CBS) MLB commisioner Rob Manfred doesn't expect the designated hitter to be instituted in the National League anytime soon, he said during an interview on the Mully and Hanley Show on Friday morning.
"I really do not foresee us going to a universal rule," Manfred said. "Our league structure, very important to us. Obviously, we play into the World Series out of the individual leagues, and the principal distinguishing feature between the two leagues is DH/no-DH. I understand when an American League club goes into a National League city, it does present issues, but I have great respect for the ability of people like Terry Francona, and they'll find out a way to put a competitive club out there."
In recent seasons, there's been increased discussion of bringing the DH to the NL, with some feeling it's inevitable as the value of contracts to top-tier pitchers has skyrocketed and teams feeling the need to protect them as much as possible. Perhaps the DH will come to the NL down the line, but Manfred made it sound like that would be a "later" rather than "sooner" scenario with his comments Friday.
"It's an attachment to the National League brand of baseball, among the National League owners in particular," Manfred said. "There are significant differences in the way the game's played in the two leagues, driven by the presence of absence of the DH. And some people have a real preference one way or another. It's not a question of not wanting to deal with it. It's just a question of having a different point of view."
Manfred acknowledged repealing the policy that gives home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league in the All-Star Game has been discussed with the players' union, but he gave no further details.
"Let's start with what it's done," Manfred said. "I do believe that 'This time it counts' has helped us keep the All-Star Game the most competitive All-Star Game in professional sports. The players are out there, they're playing for something and they care about the game. And that's a good thing.
"In terms of reconsideration, we're in the collective bargaining process with the MLBPA right now. We bargained over that rule with the MLBPA originally, and I'm just not going to comment with the status of things that are involved in that negotiation other than to say this is a topic we've had some conversation on."
Listen to Manfred's full interview below.