Is a pitcher just a pitcher ,or is he a baseball player?

This is a good question, my opinion is that the DH should be in both the AL and NL. My reason for this is that in the NL pitchers only get about 6 at bats every week at the most so it is to hard for them to get settle in at the plate like positional players that play every game. There is also the factor of a pitcher getting injured at the plate. While this doesn't happen a lot a pitcher can get hit by a pitch in on his hand and be placed on the DL and miss a few starts or could take too big of a swing and pull a muscle and have to be taken out of the game. Pitchers are very important in the game of baseball and should be protected so that is why I beleive the DH should be implemented into the NL.

Yes the pitcher is a baseball player. Just because he doesn't bat doesn't mean he is not a player. He has one of most important jobs of a baseball team. If your pitcher sucks, then your going to be down in a lot of games. Good pitching will always beat good hitting. How can you score runs if you can't hit?

A pitcher is a baseball player, and yes, I think he should take his place in the batting lineup. I can understand calling in a pinch hitter if the pitcher isn't that great or if they're trying to save his energy or arm for pitching, but other than that, a pitcher is part of the whole team. It wouldn't make sense for an outfielder or a catcher to not hit because he played a certain position, so why wouldn't that include pitchers? Just my opinion! :)

It doesn't matter what role the player plays in the game. If the player is involved in a game of baseball, then that person should be considered a baseball player. Certain roles may have different names/titles, but all those involved in a game of baseball are baseball players.

I don't follow the national league or baseball in general, but my daughter is a softball pitcher, so I'll take a shot at the discussion. I think pitchers are "players" but I know firsthand that pitcher to have to put a LOT of time into developing their pitching. More so, I think than the other positions. This can take away from the time that they can put into working on their batting skills. That could be the reason why they might not be obligated to take their place in the lineup.

Yes, batting is a big part of the game. Most of my life, I've followed the National league so I,too, was used to seeing the pitcher come to the plate. I personally think the announcers have it backwards - there should be no DH. Let everyone come to the plate whether National or American legue.