Pope condemns baseball's designated-hitter rule
April 01, 2016
Pope Francis has issued a surprise statement condemning the designated-hitter rule in American baseball as "a clear violation of the natural law."
The papal statement, Et Novem Ubi Sunt, issued after a secret consultation with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, comes just days before the opening of the 2016 Major League Baseball season. The statement was issued on ...
April 1.
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Posted by: feedback -
Apr. 03, 2016 10:04 PM ET USA
Consultation with Cardinals and Padres gave it away. Pope Francis would most likely skip the consultations ;)
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Posted by: Bill177 -
Apr. 02, 2016 8:32 PM ET USA
Viva il Papa!
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Apr. 02, 2016 5:23 PM ET USA
The only thing better than the post itself is Gregory108's comment on it.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Apr. 02, 2016 3:56 PM ET USA
Well, that is one area on which the Holy Father agrees with me.
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Posted by: phil L -
Apr. 02, 2016 9:33 AM ET USA
The designated hitter replaces the team's weakest batter-- almost always the pitcher-- in the batting lineup. He does not play a position in the field, and the pitcher does not have a chance to hit. This violates the fundamental principle taught to all little boys: 'Everybody gets a chance at bat.' In professional baseball, one league uses the DH rule, the other does not.
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Apr. 02, 2016 7:47 AM ET USA
Please tell a cricket-obsessed limey: What is a designated hitter?
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Posted by: mary_conces3421 -
Apr. 01, 2016 9:28 PM ET USA
The headline had me going there for a minute, but then I had a sorely needed belly-laugh. Thanks.
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Posted by: pvanderl7463 -
Apr. 01, 2016 9:28 PM ET USA
Thank you for a great laugh!My mouth was hanging open!
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
Apr. 01, 2016 7:52 PM ET USA
When I read the headline, stating the Pope did this, I knew it was an April Fool's joke. However had the headline been that the USCCB made this statement, I might have believed it. They seem to have an opinion on and seem to issue a statement on everything, whether within their area of expertise or authority or not!
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Posted by: koinonia -
Apr. 01, 2016 6:36 PM ET USA
At least the National League has held out and turned away another push for the DH a few months back. Good for them.
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Apr. 01, 2016 6:33 PM ET USA
Thank you! It is so important to keep our sense of humor during these times. And Happy April Fool's Day to you too! Now I can't wait to see which of the liberal press grabs this and passes it on as fact.
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Posted by: bppettie -
Apr. 01, 2016 6:20 PM ET USA
Excellent Decision. They have been working on this for over 2,000 years. I think it was the council of Jerusalem when it first came up, around 75 ad. But not sure about my facts, after all Abraham Lincoln himself once said, "you just cannot believe everything you read on the internet."
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Posted by: loumiamo -
Apr. 01, 2016 10:49 AM ET USA
Very cool. And April Fool's or not, the dh is truly the worst abomination ever inflicted upon Americans and our national pastime.
