PAGE 2B
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
QUOTE OF THE DAY
FACT OF THE DAY
Many believe the seventh inning stretch was started in 1910 at a Washington Senators game in which William Howard Taft stood during the seventh inning, compelling those in attendance to do the same.
—BasehaliAlmanac.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: How long has the American League used the designated hitter?
A: 40 years
THE MORNING BREW MLB should have more consistent rules
As a University student, I understand tradition is pretty cool. But sometimes "tradition" can be arbitrary and stupid.
When Major League Baseball's Houston Astros were sold to Jim Crane in November of 2011, the team switched from the ultra-traditional National League to the modernized American League.
All right, neither is really all that modernized. But somehow the American League is more so than the National League — all because they have one simple player that only exerts effort on the field four times a game: the Designated Hitter.
So if MLB didn't have a problem destroying tradition to make more money, then they should have no problem with allowing the National League to adopt a designated hitter as well.
With the Astros' move to the American League, each league now consists of 15 teams, which means interleague play will now be a part of everyday life. Major League Baseball didn't have a problem destroying tradition by creating interleague play in 1997. Up until that point, an American League team didn't play a National League team until they met in the World Series. But this year, an AL and NL team will have to play each other every single day.
There will be some people that wish for this "tradition" in the National League to stay intact. These people are called "curmudgeons" and live in Tampa Bay, Fla. They have boring lives because they are old and retired. The way to make it less boring is by complaining about the second most boring sport in American culture (golf is clearly more boring).
These curmudgeon want baseball to stay the same as it was when they were
kids — when pitchers were also batters. The problem is that pitchers are no longer batters. Pitchers rarely get extensive training in hitting. Thus, there is a blackhole of a hitter on every single National League teams' lineup.
Even this past week as I watched Edwin Jackson pitch for the Cubs, the team's broadcast team, Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies, mentioned that Edwin Jackson became a pitcher because he couldn't hit very well. But wait, he pitches for a National League team and he's a starting pitcher. So he pitches (hopefully) at least six innings, and will have at least two at bats.
Those two at bats are completely worthless. The man who has to make those at bats even acknowledged that he's terrible at it. Jackson is not the only pitcher in the league to do this. Rarely does a pitcher try to be a good batter.
With interleague play happening every day now, the MLB is no longer two separate leagues with two sets of rules. It is now one giant league with two separate rules, but no real divider as to who gets what set of rules.
If Major League Baseball is serious about modernizing the game, competing with the NBA and the NFL, it must change its way of thinking and either get rid of the DH in the American League, or add the DH to the National League.
Clayton Kershaw may have hit a home run last week, and Zack Greinke may really love to boast about his home run in Houston several years ago. But those are anomalies. Those instances are interesting because they never happen, and it will forever stay that way.
Babe Ruth may have hit a million home runs as a pitcher, but the game has changed and so should Major League Baseball. They can either keep touting its great "tradition" or join the 21st century with the rest of us.
This week in athletics
— Edited by Brian Sisk
Monday
No events are scheduled.
Tuesday
Baseball
lowa
6 p.m.
lowa City, lowa
Wednesday
Baseball
 Iowa
4 p.m.
lowa City, lowa
Thursday
No events are scheduled.
Friday
Women's Tennis
Texas
2 p.m.
Lawrence
Baseball
Texas
6 p.m.
Lawrence
Saturday
Women's Soccer
South Dakota St
10 a.m.
Lawrence
Softball
Furman University
Noon
Greensville, S.C.
Football
Spring Game
1 p.m.
Lawrence,
Softball
Furman University
2 p.m.
Greensville, S. C.
Sunday
Softball
Furman University
10 a.m.
Greensville, S.C.
Women's Tennis
Texas Tech
Noon
Lawrence, Kan.
Baseball
Texas
1 p.m.
Lawrence
KANSANCLASSIFIEDS
housing
for sale
announcements
785-864-4358
...
Taking Applications for Summer lifeguards and pool manager apply in person Monday-Friday, Lawrence Country Club. 400 Country Club Terrace
Help wanted for custom harvesting.
Truck driver. Good wages. Guaranteed pay. Call 970-483-7490 evenings.
Landscape assistance needed! Hard-
working male w/ basic lawn/gardening
knowledge. PT Tuesdays/Fridays 843-
8530
Part Time Delivery/installer. Heavy Lifting & Valid Drivers License Required.
Apply at Stoneback Appliance 925 iowa.
PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun loving counselors to teach All land, adventure, & water sports. Great Summer! Call 888-844-909, apply: campdarn.com
Spring Break left you Spring Broke?
Looking for 8 more students, $700 perw/kell, college credit (42) 239-3984
TRAFFIC-DUJ'S-MIP'S
PERSONAL INJURY
Student legal matters/licensed issues
divorce criminal & civil matters
officer affidavit
DONALD G. STROLE
donald G. Strole
16 East 13th
842-5118
Free Initial Consultation
SUMMER HELP WANTED - Tall Oaks
Christian Camp - Linwood, KS. Seeking 8-10 summer staff. Requires at least good basic skills, and college age or older. Lifeguards, challenge course, equestrian, & food service. Good salary, full training, meals, housing (if needed), and Christian work environment. Info & forms at
tallowa.org calls or call 913-301-3004
jobs
ANNOUNCEMENTS
textbooks
HOUSING
HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
1-4 BR avail. 6/1/81, Pool/ Patio/
balcony. KU & Lawrence Bus. Walk-in-
Closets. Pats OK! Quiet Location. Call
785.843.0011 www.holidaymgmt.com
NOW LEASING FALL 2013! CAMPUS LOCATIONS!
Studios, 1 & 2 bedrooms
OFFICE: Chase Court Apartments
1942 Stewart Ave. 785-843-8220
www.firstmanagementinc.com
chaseflower@sunflower.com
Saddlebrook & Overland Pointe
LUXURY TOWNHOMES
Move In Specials
625 Folks Rd. 785-832-8200
HAWKCHALK.COM
PARKWAY COMMONS
Townhomes & Apts. for lease avail. b/w
now & Aug. 1 see homeforestore.org or
call 785-814-7300
PARKWAY COMMONS
1, 2 & 3 BRs
Weight Room, Pool, Hot Tub,
W/D, Pet Upholstery (90% Oaks Okay!
Ask about our Special!
3601 Clinton Parkway
785-842-3280
CLASSIFIEDS@KANSAN.COM
Varsity
766-6378
Avail. August: 3 BR, 2 bath Close to KU. All appliances. Must see. Call 785-769-7518.
1, 2 or 3 of 4 BR, W/D included, owner managed and maintained, pets possible,
Downtown and campus locations, 785-842-8473, jwapm@sunflower.com
Town Homes and Houses
Available June 1st and August 1st
www.Garberprop.com
785-842-2475
4 and 7 BR houses.
Available August 2013.
thomasd@sunflower.com
HOUSING
HIGHPIONTE APARTMENTS
1,2 & 3 BR. Now leasing for Immediate
& Falli W/D in each unit, pool. fitness
center, pet friendly. Reduced deposits.
785-841-8468/highpoint@sunflower-
com
Hutton 841-3339
Available August 1st, 1 Bedroom apt.
Between campus and downtown by
GSP-Corbil, at 1128 Ohio. Free parking
and Washroom. No pets. No utilities.
$475. Call 785-550-5012
Frontier
856-8900
Tuckaway 838-3377
NOW LEASING
Sunrise Place & Sunrise Village
Apartments & Townhomes
Spacious 2, 3 & 4 BR Townhomes
- $200-400 off 1st month of rent
- Swimming pools, Pet-friendly, & Some with water
ON KU BUS ROUTE
www.sunrisepartments.com
785-841-8400
HOUSING
Arkansas Villas: 3Br/3 Ba. walking distance to campus, laundry, porches, & parking. For current & fall move in. Special: reduced fees 785-794-7744
Aspen West Apartments
2900 Bob Billings Parkway
1 & 2 BR Apartments Available June 1
1/2 month free 785-842-4461
Peppertree Apartments 3100 West 22nd Street
Call: 785.841.7726
Text: 920.278.7079
www.PeppertreeAptsKS.com
HOUSING
Available August 1st, Spacious two bedroom, between campus and downtown, by GSP-Corbin at 1128 Ohio. Free Parking and Washroom, no pets. $375 for each tenant plus utilities. 785-505-5012
LUXURY LIVING AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
Gage Management
785-842-7644 | www.ggemanqt.com
hawkchalk
I
-