Re Entry

I understand what you are saying about the purity of baseball but you also have to understand that HS is still considered youth baseball. Because of that they have certain speed up rules, safety rules and get more kids playing rules.
The DH and reentry are get more kids playing rules. It allows coaches to get more kids playing but still leaves him options to get the right guys in to win a ballgame.

Michael S.

I guess but I guess the kid who did not bat as he was re enterd for was not the right guy.

Re-Entry does seem out of place in baseball...but since it is in the rulebook, I am finding that it has real value sometimes. I coach at a very small school, so we have a fairly limited talent pool. Frequently pitchers will have to play other positions before relieving. Thursday was an excellent example. Our starter was up in pitch count, and would obviously not be able to start the 7th. I pulled the Left Fielder with 1 out in the 6th to allow him to be completely warm, and not risk an injury, we finished the 6th, I had the replacement fielder hit (he struck out), and re-entered the player on the mound. 4 batters later, we had the win.

Without the re-entry rule, I wonder, because of numbers, how many unnecessary injuries would occur due to a lack of warm-up.

Will,

What Michael S. stated is right on. The DH and reentry rules were put in to get more kids some playing time by giving options to the coach while not jeopardizing his chances to win. I support both rules. My son graduated from HS last year having played 4 years of varsity baseball. Now he pitches in college but never bats since the pitchers are always DH'd for. I must admit that hurts me for I would love to see him swing again but that's just how it is. I wonder how you feel about the wood bat verses metal bat issue?

Panther Proud

wood vs Metal. No brainer. Initially the "aluminum" as they were called was a financial thing. when I first started coaching in the early 70's we used wood Bought bats by the dozen. I would buy 2 or 3 aluminum each year in the beginning they cost about 30 bucks but now these kids have their own and they spend 200 dollars sometimes so it sort of is not a financial thing. High school is one thing but go to a college game and see the ball flying all over the place. Then a kid might have the luck to get drafted and they say he has to "learn" to hit with wood. Once we played a tea who had a highly touted player before the game the scouts wanted to see him hit with wood. What other sport has that. My son plays in an adult league during the summer after watching college games with aluminum with high scores it is refreshing to see a 4-2 or 3=1 game. You rarely see more than 8-9 runs scored.

Our adult league went back to wood two years ago and it has made a big difference. The scores went down, the games were faster and you found out who could really hit.

As am old timer I am a purist. the DH in the pros still bothers me. What other sport has that mentality. Lets have a designated foul shooter in basketball. Just venting