Late inning strategies are definitely different, and so are roster decisions. AL managers are more likely to keep a solid defensive utility player on the squad, or a young player with great speed, regardless of their hitting. NLers need to rely more on pinch hitters.
I am in an AL market, and have had the pleasure of watching the extended careers of some great hitters due to the DH (primary example: Rusty Staub, a career NLer, who came to the Tigers and DH'd for several years). The position also tends to get good hitters back from injuries more quickly, since hitting is less physically stressful than fielding. It's a bonus for the fans.
I grew up spending plenty of summer days and nights at Tiger stadium way before the DH rule. I didn't like the rule, but came to accept it and now see the AL/NL games as different, not better or worse. The way managers respond to the changes that they face when they cross league boundaries, especially in the World Series, adds to the drama of the sport. I like that AL and NL are slightly different games.
__________________
"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard
|