The Pittsburgh Pirates are a prime example of why interleague play needs to go away — or at least operate under the same rules.

Since Major League Baseball embraced interleague play in 1997, the Pirates have a won-loss record of 85-133, or so it stood entering Wednesday night's game at Baltimore.

Yes, the Pirates have had pretty bad baseball teams throughout that stretch. Understood.

But break that 85-133 record down a little more and one will realize that the Bucs are 57-54 at home against American League competition, compared to 28-79 in American League parks.

That discrepancy is a bit hard to ignore.

The explanation for it is the designated hitter.

American League teams have a choice when they come to National League parks. They can find a position on the field at which to hide their DH or they can play with their DH on the bench. Unfortunately for them, the DH is usually one of their better hitters.

Rarely will you see an American League team that doesn't bat its DH somewhere in the middle of the lineup. Guys like David Ortiz, Travis Hafner, Michael Young, Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Delmon Young and Billy Butler are among players who have hit in the DH spot in recent games.

There's some pretty good bats there.

By comparison, the Pirates used rookie Matt Hague at DH Tuesday night. They were considering calling up Jeff Clement to man that role this week, or maybe insert Josh Harrison or Garrett Jones into that spot.

Difference is, AL teams go into a season with fewer pitchers on the roster and prep a strong hitter to fill their DH role. They have players adjust to handling that role, which is basically pinch-hitting four times a night.

NL teams do not structure their rosters for the DH. They want the extra arms in the bullpen.

Different leagues, different rules, different styles of play.

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League next year, interleague play will be with us every single day. Every team figures to play 20 interleague games over the course of a season.

If we have to live with that, can we at least get all of big league baseball to play by the same rules? Either bring the DH to the National League or, better yet, dump it altogether.

You wanna play big boy baseball? Bring a glove — and not just a batting glove.

This week, the Pirates will work on trying to improve their record in AL ballparks.

But you might as well say the Bucs are playing shorthanded all week when it comes to filling out the lineup card.

No question, some baseball fans like the DH, others don't. But now that interleague play is on the verge of becoming an everyday thing, it's time to make a decision.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle