Too Many Intentional Walks?

[ervinn]

My relievers are giving up far too many intentional walks with the game on the line. I've lost many games because of this excessive intentional walk problem and felt like ranting.

[khkoenig]

The subject line says it all

[drew]

I think there are too many intentional walks when a player steals second. Almost all of the time the guy batting is intentionally walked

[dturkenk]

Granted the game was pretty much over at the point of the intentional walk.. but why intentionally walk a batter with 2 outs (I checked, there's not much of rating difference between Cruz and Rappaport according to my scouts)??


TOP OF THE TENTH
The Phillies guarded the lines.
Mike Buddie came in to pitch for the Phillies. <--->
The Phillies guarded the lines.
Bill Mueller pinch hit for Joe Mays. <--->
Bill Mueller singled up the middle. <--1>
Wheeler Tettelbach hit an infield single to short. <-21>
Carlos Febles hit an infield single to short. <321>
Nick Johnson walked, scoring a run. <321>
Phil Mann walked, scoring a run. <321>
Richie Sexson grounded to short for a double play. <-2->
Jason Johnson came in to pitch for the Phillies. <-2->
Jose Cruz was intentionally walked. <-21>
Sid Rapaport singled up the middle. <321>
Ben Petrick walked, scoring a run. <321>
Bill Mueller walked, scoring a run. <321>
Wheeler Tettelbach grounded to the pitcher. <321>
5 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
In the middle of the tenth, St. Louis leads 6 to 1.

[ervinn]

It came to the point where I began going to the box score for every game I lost to see if IBB bug was involved. Believe me, or not, many times my relievers are giving up intentional bases on balls in very odd situations.

What can I say but 'Clay, please fix this bug.' These IBBs are also not being counted as walks given up by the pitchers, or walks earned by the batters for that matter. If they were displayed I believe it would be obvious to everyone just how out-of-wack the IBBs are.

ervinn
montreal extinct
league daily normal 1

[Dee Dreslough]

Hi Guys,

I'm already aware of this and will be working on it.

As for IBBs with 2 outs -- those are usually the least dangerous because you only need 1 out so you should pitch the worst batter you can.

However, an IBB with men on 1st and 2nd shouldn't happen very often.

Anyway, you can discuss the strategy while I work on the code...

Clay

[dturkenk]

I agree they're the least dangerous, but I would argue they shouldn't happen at all, unless there's a clear difference between the quality of batters (i.e. intentionally walk the number 8 hitter to face the pitcher).

If there's no clear difference between the batters (as there wasn't in the situation I cited above - unless the decision is based on something other than my scouting reports), there should be no intentional walk, because it doesn't really gain you much. Almost any ball that would cause a force out at second or third would also turn into an out at first. All the intentional walk does is provide another base runner to score.