Do you prefer a bases loaded double that clears the bases and involves an exciting play at home plate or a boring three-run homerun where the baserunners trot around the bases while the defense stands around with dazed looks about them? Would you prefer stolen bases, squeeze plays, and trying to move the baserunners to make something happen as opposed to a team waiting for someone to hit a homerun? If you prefer the aforementioned as opposed to the later then consider yourself a fan of "little ball." No it's not your son's little league team it is a characteristic that defines the major difference between Major League Baseball's two leagues: the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The main factor that causes the difference between the two is the AL's use of a Designated Hitter (DH: a position player who hits for the pitcher but does not play in the field). This was an "experiment" started by Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 1970's that is unfortunately going on today. Although the DH may add runs to a team and length to a game, it takes away from the purity of the grand old game.
             Stealing bases and advancing runners can make for a shorter game while the AL style can cause long, drawn out games. Although these happenings can occur in both leagues, movement of runners occurs on a higher frequency in the NL. Generally there are more runs scored in an AL game. This is a major factor in the length of the game. Although run scoring has increased throughout the league, it has caused the already long AL games to become even longer. Another reason for the longer game is that an AL manager might be quicker to change the pitcher because he does not have to consider pinch hitting for him later in the game because of the DH. In the NL a manager must factor in the possibility that the pitcher may be due up to bat in the next inning so he'll leave the pitcher in and not take a five minute
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