Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez on a universal DH, “I’m in favor of it”

Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez talks universal DH

This season was already going to wild as all hell and one that will not soon be forgotten. It’s going to be a sprint to the finish line for every team to earn their spot in the postseason. Thanks to the agreement between MLB and MLBPA, teams will have an extra weapon, which has Boston Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez very excited.

That weapon is the universal DH. Something that should’ve been implemented throughout the league ages ago and it’s insane to think it’s just now happening.

Now that training camp has begun we’re being treated to the sights and sounds of the ballpark once again. I for one am loving every clip I’m seeing on social media of players in the batting cage and pitchers hurling gas from the mound. Martinez has not only gotten back in the cages but also spoke recently about a laundry list of topics, the universal DH included.

"“You’re kind of asking a biased person here,” Martinez said. “I’m all for it. I’m a DH. I think you could speak to a lot of pitchers who are for it, too. A lot of pitchers like it and a lot of pitchers in the AL like it because they feel the pitchers in the NL have an advantage. It’s one less hitter they have to face and one less elite hitter they have to face, really, because of it.”"

J.D. hits the nail squarely on the head with his take on the subject. From a pitcher’s point of view, the NL has to feel like a day off. You know that you’re only going to face eight actual batters until the manager uses a pinch hitter for a pitching change. Depending on how late the opposing pitcher goes, that could be 2-3 easy outs per game. Which then begs to ask the question, why?

I get that the NL is the league that’s built on tradition, but it’s 2020 and it’s time to catch up to the rest of us, Grandpa. Why are the AL pitchers having to face a lineup from top to bottom of guys that have hit all of their lives while the NL pitcher gets that easy out every time through the lineup?

I’m going to make my thoughts very clear, I’m pro universal DH and that mindset will never change. You can come at me with all of the “strategies,” nonsense that you want, but it’s a terrible argument.

Pitchers dedicate their entire lives to getting extremely good at throwing the ball, so why would you want them holding a bat? Yeah, there are a few incredibly rare occasions where a pitcher looks competent at the plate, but they’re too few and far in between to be considered the norm. Adding the DH to the National League will not only allow clubs to protect their pitching investments, but the entire league would then be open to elite hitters.

"“So I like it to even the playing field across the board. I understand the history of it and stuff like that, so I see the other side of it, too, but I’m in favor of it. I think it keeps everybody safe. It keeps our pitchers safe, it keeps the game fun, it’s more offense, which is what fans like to see,” Martinez added."

Granted, the universal DH is just for this season, but if it goes well, I see it being added to the rules in the not so distant future. With a new CBA negotiation looming, this is something that may become a reality before we know it. There was the chance to have it for 2020 and 2021 but that deal was rejected during the summer of miserable negotiations. I can see this topic being a bit contentious among the players though.

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You may have those pitching in the NL that absolutely want to have that pitcher at the plate for the quick out. But you may also have some that want nothing to do with hitting or running the bases as it puts their actual job at risk due to injury. I can also see the AL pitchers sharing their voices that if they have to face a DH then every pitcher should, and rightfully so. The traditionalism of the NL gives them a break that the AL doesn’t.

For hitters, adding the universal DH to the entire league could mean huge money. Instead of having only half the league to work with come free agency time, they’ll now have the pick of the litter. Unfortunately for us, that gives our guy J.D. another long list of suitors when that window for opting-out comes around. Luckily, with it just being for 2020 as of now, barring some crazy deal being struck, his odds of staying in Boston remain decent.

When all is said and done, having the universal DH is a massive pro for the game of baseball. It’ll allow more chances for hitting specialists to shine while also preserving the health of pitching specialists. For J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox, it could create some waves down the road if this becomes a thing beyond 2020. But for now, I can’t wait to see some of these guys mashing all over the league.