How does eliminating the DH eliminate Big Papi?

I don't understand the argument that, as Tim Wakefield put it, "You're taking away possibly 15 jobs from guys in the American League" if you eliminate the DH. I'm pretty sure David Ortiz could play 1B for someone ... maybe even the Red Sox - they are trusting him to handle 1st base in the World Series! Jim Thome would be playing 1B for someone if he couldn't DH. Same goes for Travis Hafner. And, I think the Mariners would have put up with limited D at 3rd from Edgar Martinez to keep his bat in the line-up.

Even if it did put Big Papi and a few others out of business, would that be all bad? Teams would still carry 25 guys on their major league roster. It might not benefit big boppers who can't play in the field, but it might benefit utility guys who can play multiple positions and give managers versatility. Are we really worried about Mike Piazza having to hang 'em up because his offense is no longer good enough to warrant overlooking his defensive inadequacies? I'm not ... and the union shouldn't be either. By keeping the DH, they are protecting a few of their current members, but they are also hindering the advancement of future members. Where is the foresight, guys?

I don't think it's fair to overlook the other side, either. D-backs SP Micah Owings hit .333 this year (20-60). Braves SP Tim Hudson went 20-76, which gives him a .263 average and a definite advantage over teammate Chuck James, who hit .113. Chuck, don't worry, you hit better than a lot of pitchers (including teammate John Smoltz). So, if you add the DH to the NL, you are robbing a subset of the pitchers of an advantage they currently possess ... they can hit and most of their counterparts cannot.

I think MLB should consider phasing out the DH. I think axing it out of the blue in an off-season is a bad way to go. After the World Series, Bud could announce that the 2010 season will be DH-free. That will give Travis Hafner, Big Papi, Jim Thome and others two years to work on becoming competent at a position. Just as important, it will give teams two years to prepare for not being able to stick a big bat in the DH spot. So, the Red Sox would have two years to figure out how to figure out the logjam with Ortiz, Youkillis and Lowell. It gives the White Sox time to sort out the situation with Thome and Konerko. It also gives DH's at the end of their careers two more years to just hit. If they want to play longer then they need to get used to the idea of wearing a glove again. And, it gives AL pitchers two years to work on their batting skills.

I really don't think eliminating the DH would create that much of an impact. It does make a pitchers job easier, but is that a bad thing? The shrinking parks and shrinking strike zone are bad enough for pitchers ... they should have an easy out every once in a while. Teams would be less likely to sacrifice offense for defense on the corners, but is there really going to be an uproar if Doug Mientkiewicz doesn't have steady work? Come on. There is plenty of offense in the NL. And, maybe it would help redistribute the wealth a little bit ... one less elite player for the Red Sox and Yankees to hoard from the rest of the league.

Bud ... eliminate the DH.