South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
New DH rule likely to affect roster
Mattingly hints Marlins will platoon lineup spot
If there is an MLB season — and that caveat will be necessary until a pitch is thrown — it will take place with some major changes.
That will include ridding of some of baseball’s more insignificant norms, like spitting and the pregame exchange of lineup cards. It will also instill more meaningful changes, like starting with a runner on second base in extra-innings and limiting all pitchers to a three-batter minimum before they can be removed from the game.
One such change that is already impacting the Miami Marlins’ approach is the universal designated hitter, requiring even National League teams to incorporate a DH into the lineup. It’s a watershed moment, even amid wholesale changes to the sport, for a league that has required pitchers to hit since its inception in 1876.
Accounting for that change has already started with the formation of the roster, a 60-man pool that will be cut to 30 before the season begins and, eventually, down to 26. Currently, 32 of those 60 players are
Garrett Cooper served as the primary designated hitter during interleague games last season.
pitchers — essentially on par with the rest of the league, with pitchers consisting of just over 54 percent of roster spots in MLB to date.
But the designated hitter will be at the forefront of those decisions about roster balance and construction going forward.
“I think even more important than the 30-man roster is just the biggest change for us as a league is just the universal DH,” said Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill. “I think that changes a little bit of our mindset, and how we will put the 30-man together.”
According to manager Don Mattingly, it’s highly unlikely one player will man the designated hitter
role on a nightly basis, as a team like the Chicago Cubs might with Kyle Schwarber. Instead, Mattingly expects to use the position as a means of rotation, rest and strategy.
“I think for us, obviously it enables us to put one of our better players in the lineup,” Mattingly said. “It gives us another hitter in the lineup. It will enable us probably to mix and match a little bit more with our lineup. I don’t consider it, for us, we weren’t built to have one guy — we don’t have Big Papi sitting there who’s going to DH everyday. I think we have an idea who DHs the most. But I do look at that as using that as a rotation, where guys can get a little bit of a breather, but also stay in the lineup.”
Mattingly made no explicit reference to specific players, but lefty Matt Joyce and righty Garrett Cooper could be primary options. Joyce, 35, enjoyed one of the best years of his career last year with the Atlanta Braves, hitting .295 with a .408 on-base percentage in 200 at bats. Cooper, who hit .281 with 15 home runs last season, served as the team’s designated hitter in two interleague games last year.
The role could also be used to provide some of the team’s top prospects — like first baseman Lewin Diaz, outfielder Jesus Sanchez or even outfielder J.J. Bleday — at-bats before fully thrusting them into everyday roles.
Regardless of who sees his name inked into the lineup at that spot each day, the rule change simplifies life for Mattingly on a game-by-game basis.
“There’s a lot less to think about with the DH because you know it’s a matter of changing pitchers and matching up, things like that,” Mattingly said. “You don’t have to worry about who’s coming up — pinch-hitter, who’s available right there as far as making a quick change or how many outs, (or) how far the pitcher’s away for a double (switch).”