Baseball's designated hitter disagreement has turned 40, with no sign of slowing down

The designated hitter has turned 40 this year. Fittingly, it's having sort of a mid-life crisis.

Never before has the imbalanced DH rule been more of a potential problem, with daily interleague games on the schedule this season. But controversy has surrounded the DH since 1973, so it's only fitting it will continue to exist unevenly and indefinitely.

Commissioner Bud Selig said this week there are no plans to change the rule.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland is among those who would like to see both the American and National leagues use the same rule, whether with the DH or not. His team will finish the regular season at Miami, meaning the loss of the DH for potentially pennant-race-altering games.