The Designated Hitter Blues: How to Ditch the DH in MLB The Show (and Unleash Your Inner Pitching Babe Ruth)
Ah, the Designated Hitter. A topic that sparks more debate than a lukewarm plate of ballpark nachos. In MLB The Show, some folks crave the strategic dance of a pitcher hitting, while others just wanna focus on launch angles and dingers. If you're in Camp "Buh-Bye DH," fear not, fellow baseball maverick! Here's your survival guide to ditching the designated hitter and letting your pitchers take a crack at glory (or strike out spectacularly).
Step 1: Embrace the Franchise Mode
First things first, forget about those pesky online modes where the DH reigns supreme. Franchise Mode is your haven, your no-DH promised land. Here, during glorious league creation, you'll be presented with a glorious option: "Use Designated Hitter?" Slide that bad boy to "NO" with the fervor of a Bartolo Colon fastball, and you're golden.
Step 2: Prepare for Puzzlement (and Potential Pinch Hitting Panic)
Alright, so you've banished the DH. Now what? Be prepared for some raised eyebrows from your virtual coaching staff. They might mutter about "strategic disadvantage" or "pitching fatigue." Just channel your inner Billy Beane and tell them, "Analytics don't win games, Shohei Ohtani with a bat in his hand does!"
Step 3: Pinch Hitting? We Don't Need No Stinking Pinch Hitting! (Okay, Maybe a Little)
Here's the truth: your pitchers will get tired. They might even look about as graceful swinging a bat as a sloth trying to salsa. Embrace the chaos! But also, have a decent bench with some pinch-hitting prowess. You don't want your poor pitcher collapsing at the plate after whiffing three straight times.
Step 4: Witness Pitching Greatness... Maybe
Now comes the fun part. The chance to see your flame-throwing closer launch a moonshot into the cheap seats. The thrill of your knuckleballer somehow blooping a single. It might not be pretty, but it'll be unforgettable. Just remember, some pitchers hit like me trying to explain string theory – not well at all. But hey, that's half the fun!
So there you have it! A (slightly) tongue-in-cheek guide to ditching the DH in MLB The Show. Remember, baseball is about entertainment, and sometimes, that means watching a pitcher look completely lost at the plate. Just don't tell your virtual coaches I said that.
