JUPITER, Fla. — The news was music to Garrett Cooper’s ears.
The designated hitter is in the National League full-time as part of the new collective bargaining agreement after being a temporary measure during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The hit-first, defense-second Cooper was a big endorser of the designated hitter becoming permanent last year, but MLB opted to revert back to the normal lineup in 2021 — pitchers hitting in the National League, the designated hitter only in the American League.
“I think MLB messed up,” Cooper said then.
Now? He’s happy.
The Marlins overall are, too, especially considering most important area for improvement heading into the 2022 season.
“We need offense,” general manager Kim Ng said.
The Marlins, who scored the second-fewest runs in MLB and were in the bottom five in most key offensive statistical categories last season, have taken steps already to fill that need — most notably signing free agent outfielder Avisail Garcia and trading for infielder Joey Wendle. More moves, the Marlins hope, will be on the way before the season begins on April 8 against the San Francisco Giants.
Having the designated hitter spot in the lineup, by default, should provide a jolt.
Pitchers no longer have to step into the batter’s box for a plate appearance that more often than not ends in either a strikeout or a sacrifice bunt. Managers don’t have to worry about double-switches or taking a pitcher off the mound because his spot in the lineup is due up in a key situation.
“I’ve been a proponent of the National League game,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said, “but after watching the pitchers over the last few years, it’s hard to watch. It’s time.”
It also gives manager Don Mattingly more opportunities to fully utilize the position players at his disposal.
Take Cooper as an example. His primary position is first base, but the Marlins also have Jesus Aguilar at that spot. That wasn’t a problem in 2020, when the two were able to alternate between starts at first base and designated hitter.
But with no designated hitter in 2021, the only way to get both into the starting lineup last season was to have Cooper occasionally play right field. Otherwise, Mattingly was faced with an either-or situation.
“It’s going to be good for us,” Aguilar said, “especially us big guys like me, Cooper, Avisail. Playing 162 games is tough, but we’re happy we with the DH so that we can rotate.”
Mattingly said the club will most likely utilize the designated hitter spot similar to how they did in 2020 — with Cooper or Aguilar there the majority of the time when not in the field but also mixing in other hitters (Garcia and Jesus Sanchez among them) when they need a day off from the field.
“You always want to have some flexibility,” Mattingly said.
As for the pitchers? Let’s just say most are fine with the decision.
“I got two hits in the big leagues,” Trevor Rogers said. “That’s two more than a lot of other people.”
But there are some who will miss the trips to the batter’s box. Pablo Lopez, for example, grew up playing in the outfield before transitioning to pitching. He was only a career .131 hitter with four doubles in the big leagues, but had his sights set on hitting a home run.
He will sacrifice that, though, for the bigger picture goal of winning.
“I fell in love with hitting,” Lopez said. “It’s sad that it’s not going to be here, but it’s going to work out for us.”
