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The Cubs have played 3 or 4 extra inning games so far this year, and each time they ran out of position players by about the 10th inning. And so did the teams they were playing. In their game today, the Cubs actually used Carlos Zambrano as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning with the game on the line, because they didn't have anybody else left on the bench. In each of these extra inning games, they totally ran out of position players. I've often wondered what would happen if someone got injured? Would they have to forfeit the game?
The problem is with the archaic 25 man roster. In today's game, more position players are needed. The 25 man roster was established back when the teams usually had 4 starters and about 4 relievers and thus had a bunch more position players and pinch hitters.
This was before the advent in today's game of relief pitching specialization, with 2 lefty spot relievers, a few middle relievers, a couple set-up men, and a closer. There are usually 11-12 pitchers on the team, so there's no spots left for extra position players or the old-fashioned pinch hitter like Smokey Burgess, Manny Mota, or Rusty Staub.
I say it's time to adapt to the new game and expand the rosters to 27! Then we could easily do away with the Designated hitter. The argument has always been that all the Dh's would be out of a job. If the rosters are expanded, they would still have jobs - they'd be pinch hitters!
The problem is with the archaic 25 man roster. In today's game, more position players are needed. The 25 man roster was established back when the teams usually had 4 starters and about 4 relievers and thus had a bunch more position players and pinch hitters.
This was before the advent in today's game of relief pitching specialization, with 2 lefty spot relievers, a few middle relievers, a couple set-up men, and a closer. There are usually 11-12 pitchers on the team, so there's no spots left for extra position players or the old-fashioned pinch hitter like Smokey Burgess, Manny Mota, or Rusty Staub.
I say it's time to adapt to the new game and expand the rosters to 27! Then we could easily do away with the Designated hitter. The argument has always been that all the Dh's would be out of a job. If the rosters are expanded, they would still have jobs - they'd be pinch hitters!
Good call. 
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