Giving the National League a DH was worth it just for Pujols

The baseball fans here at Triumph were visibly (and verbally) upset when word came down from the most recent MLB collective bargaining agreement. We had better things (well, marginally better, anyway) to do than worry about a minor league salary tweak here or an additional roster spot there, but when news broke that the National League had finally capitulated to the pro-designated hitter crowd, we were downright indignant.

As was the case with many baseball purists, we didn’t consider the quirky rule differences between the two leagues to be a bug in the system, rather we viewed it as a feature—a feature we very much enjoyed. For starters, any rule that sends Bartolo Colon to the plate, well, ever, should be protected at all costs. We don’t care if he strikes out 90% of the time, because one time, one beautiful time, he did not, and when he connected for his first career home run in Petco Park, the Angels in the Outfield shed a collective tear.

Let’s also not forget the unforgettable post-season drama of Astors pitching Zach Greinke clutching two singles in the 2021 World Series—one of which was as a pinch hitter in a game he didn’t even throw in.

Those are but two microcosms of the collective quirk of having pitchers swing the bat in the national league, a quirk that—we believed—added tangible value to the game. On top of the extreme situations we touched on above, there was, of course, the smaller strategy components of having pitchers in the lineup. Sacrifice bunts, double switches, and the like—catnip to diehard baseball aficionados.

So, like many other fans, we were understandably peeved at MLB for doing away with all our favorite tomfoolery in one sweeping rule change. The way we saw it, offenses across both leagues were already slumping (as we discussed here), and we’d rather have the Bartolo’s of the world with a bat in their hand than a marginal increase in National League batting average. Looking back, however, we discounted the opening this rule change created, and how an all-time great could leverage that opening to make his mark on history.

Yes, we were wrong, but not for being mad at the rule change. We still stand by those grievances. We were wrong for doubting the greatness of Albert Pujols and the miles he could take if the league gave him an inch. Major League Baseball didn’t prove us wrong, Albert did. Allow us to unpack.

In our opinion, one simple fact changes the entire calculus of MLB’s decision: if the national league doesn’t add a DH in 2022, Pujols doesn’t chase down home run 700. Period—the end.

Not only did the Cardinals sign Pujols primarily as a designated hitter in theory, they played him exclusively in that roll during the season. When they were playing him, that is. Pujols actually had to hit his way back into the lineup as a pinch hitter after an atrocious summer slump. Like, historically bad, contemplate an early retirement, kind of slump. But even then, the addition of the DH was what gave St. Louis the flexibility to keep Albert around until he worked out some kinks. And my, oh, my, did he find his stride.

When the dust settles and the pontificators have finished pontificating (as is their nature), we believe Pujols’ career climax will go down as one of the greatest exits in the history of baseball. Actually, in the history of sports in general. How often do you have a forty-two year old—who almost decide to return early due to poor performance—rise like a phoenix from the ashes and blow past one of the most hallowed statistical marks in the game on his way out?

Okay, the phoenix thing was admittedly dramatic, but the point remains—Pujols added another historical chapter to the lore of a game already replete with historical chapters. At Triumph, we will always remember exactly where we were when Pujols launched number 700 into the cool Hollywood night in Chavez Ravine, and we know millions of other baseball fans will too.

If not a single other positive comes out of the National League bucking a hundred years of tradition by adopting the DH—and forfeiting so many lovable aspects of the game in the process—it will have been worth it just to see Albert bag number 700. Going into 2022, we were outraged by the new protocols, but, leaving the 2022 regular season, we are thanking our lucky stars (whatever those are).

So, hat tip to you, number 5. You proved us all wrong—and we couldn’t be happier about it.

As always, feel free to Ask Triumph with any additional questions and consider Supporting the Team.