2nd and 3rd with one out...

... I don't watch nearly as much baseball as many of you do.

I always thought in this situation, at least back in the day, walk the batter and set up the double play.

Pretty much all of the games I've watched in recent years, nobody does that. Or, am I just not watching enough?

I would walk the batter 90% of the time.

Only in two situations. A weak hitter on deck or the bottom of the ninth/extra innings. Why put more runners on base? Especially when hitters strike out at an alarming rate.

Only in two situations. A weak hitter on deck or the bottom of the ninth/extra innings. Why put more runners on base? Especially when hitters strike out at an alarming rate.

The crazy way the game is played today....homerun or strikeout makes the groundball DP less likely. Hate the way analytics has changed the game with upper cut swings to increase launch angle and exit velocity (or whatever????). Fundamentals are no longer fundamental.

Playing "MLB: The Show" the computer will walk you nearly every time in that situation, unless the pitcher is batting.

I think I heard on some MLB game telecasts that one team (Astros, A's---?) has not issued a single intention walk this year.

0.676% chance a run scores with runners on second and third, with one out.

0.657% chance a run scorers with bases loaded, one out.

Walk ‘em.

0.676% chance a run scores with runners on second and third, with one out.

 

0.657% chance a run scorers with bases loaded, one out.

 

Walk ‘em.

Alright David Bell.

In all honesty, this is a question, at least in my opinion, that has no definitive answer. There are soooooo many factors that should come into play, that it's impossible to have a set response.

What inning is it?

Are you the home team, or visitors?

What's the score?

Who's coming to bat?

How are they hitting tonight?

What type of hitter are they? Power hitter? Contact hitter? Strike out a lot?

Who's on-deck?

What's the chance the opposing team pinch hits?

Who's available to pinch hit?

What type of hitters are they?

What's the speed of the runners on base?

How's your pitcher's control? (You'd hate to intentionally load the bases, only to have him walk in a run.)

How has he faired against the batter coming up...historically and tonight?

How has he faired against the on-deck batter?

Is he a ground ball pitcher?

Is he a strike out pitcher?

Are you going to change pitchers?

Who's available in the bullpen?

Are they a ground ball pitcher?

Are they a strike out pitcher?

What's the umpire's strike zone been like tonight?

Are you going to play the corner infielders in, or back?

Are you on artificial turf, or natural grass?

I'm sure there's probably more, but those are just what came to mind.

I agree with CSF... Without putting any thought into, I'd initially say walk him. But there are a ton of factors to consider.

Alright David Bell.

 

In all honesty, this is a question, at least in my opinion, that has no definitive answer. There are soooooo many factors that should come into play, that it's impossible to have a set response.

 

What inning is it?

Are you the home team, or visitors?

What's the score?

Who's coming to bat?

How are they hitting tonight?

What type of hitter are they? Power hitter? Contact hitter? Strike out a lot?

Who's on-deck?

What's the chance the opposing team pinch hits?

Who's available to pinch hit?

What type of hitters are they?

What's the speed of the runners on base?

How's your pitcher's control? (You'd hate to intentionally load the bases, only to have him walk in a run.)

How has he faired against the batter coming up...historically and tonight?

How has he faired against the on-deck batter?

Is he a ground ball pitcher?

Is he a strike out pitcher?

Are you going to change pitchers?

Who's available in the bullpen?

Are they a ground ball pitcher?

Are they a strike out pitcher?

What's the umpire's strike zone been like tonight?

Are you going to play the corner infielders in, or back?

Are you on artificial turf, or natural grass?

 

I'm sure there's probably more, but those are just what came to mind.

Always gonna be variables, just depends on how much you believe in that extra almost 2% chance of a run not scoring with a walk to load ‘em.

Always gonna be variables, just depends on how much you believe in that extra almost 2% chance of a run not scoring with a walk to load ‘em.

And those variables are exactly why you can't always just go "by the book", in my opinion. (And it's probably what's frustrated me the most this year, with Bell at the helm.) You need to be aware of the situation and how you got there, and not just make a move according to some spread sheet.