Editing National League (baseball) (section)

===Designated hitter rule===
Often characterized as being a more "traditional" or "pure" league, the National League did not adopt the [[designated hitter]] rule until the shortened [[2020 Major League Baseball season|2020 season]]. Only the American League previously adopted the rule in 1973. In theory, this meant that the role of the [[manager (baseball)|manager]] was greater in the National League than in the American League, because the NL manager must take offense into account when making pitching substitutions and vice versa. However, this was disputed by some, such as former Detroit Tigers manager [[Jim Leyland]], who claimed that the American League is more difficult because AL managers are required to know exactly when to pull a pitcher, whereas an NL manager merely pulls his pitcher when that spot comes up in the batting order.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2011/05/detroit_tigers_manager_jim_ley_12.html|title=Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland compares managing in AL and NL|author=Mayo, David|work=Mlive.com|date=May 22, 2011|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> Overall, there were fewer [[home run]]s and runs scored in the National League than in the American, due to the presence of the [[pitcher]] in the NL batting order.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Historical Evolution of the Designated Hitter Rule {{!}} Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/research/historical-evolution-designated-hitter-rule|website=sabr.org|access-date=May 19, 2020|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601030711/https://sabr.org/research/historical-evolution-designated-hitter-rule|url-status=dead}}</ref> As the [[collective agreement|collective bargaining agreement]] came closer to expiring after the 2021 season, owners expressed their intentions to use the designated hitter in all games starting in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MLB will likely have the universal DH in 2022; which NL teams are ready for the change, and who needs help?|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-will-likely-have-the-universal-dh-in-2022-which-nl-teams-are-ready-for-the-change-and-who-needs-help/|access-date=February 25, 2022|website=CBSSports.com|date=January 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in North America|COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, rule changes were instituted in both leagues for the [[2020 Major League Baseball season|2020 season]], which included an abbreviated 60-game schedule, the use of the designated hitter in all games, and expanded rosters.<ref>Brookover, Bob (May 11, 2020) [https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-coronavirus-return-expanded-playoffs-20200511.html COVID-19 accelerating changes that will be part of baseball forever] ''Philadelphia Inquirer''. Retrieved July 30, 2020.</ref>

The National League reverted to its old batting rules during the [[2021 Major League Baseball season|2021 season]], but starting with the [[2022 Major League Baseball season|2022 season]], they permanently adopted the designated hitter rule after a new CBA was ratified.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Everything you need to know about '22 season|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2022-season-faq|access-date=March 10, 2022|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref>