[Kurn]

Part of me sort of likes the fact that there's a difference in the 2 leagues, but the rational person in me says unify the rules, and DH is the right way to play the game.

Every sport's rules evolve. Nobody would ever suggest the NBA to go back to the old rules and scrap the Offensive Interference rule. Under today's rules, 1/3 of Wilt Chamberlain's field goals would become turnovers.

The NFL makes significant rule changes on a regular basis. The famous "Immaculate Reception" controversy would just be another long pass play under today's rules.

So with Baseball. The pitcher actually trying to get the batter out is a game evolution. Originally, the pitcher asked the batter where and how fast he wanted the ball delivered. As late as the turn of the 20th century, ownership considered banning the curveball as "an unfair attempt to deceive the batter."

Hitting ability is not a consideration in whether or not a pitcher makes an NL roster. No manager says, "Jones will give up a few fewer hits per game, but we need Smith's bat in the lineup every 5th game."

Simply put, the DH is an evolutionary change, recognizing the reality that the pitcher by nature is a defensive specialist*. The ONLY place in baseball above the high school level where the pitcher bats is the National League. Even NL minor league teams use the DH.

* - I understand that's not the reasoning the AL used in '69. It was a marketing decision to increase offense.