Intentional Walk of Zimmerman on Hit Streak

[allstarsplus]

Barry Zito in the 7th inning Intentional Walked Ryan Zimmerman who is on a 30 game hit streak. 1st base was open and this may keep Zim from having another at-bat as he is 0-2 in the game.

The crowd boo'd and they are playing in San Francisco!!!

There seems to me that this goes against the unwritten rules in baseball.

[dodgersfan]

1 more at bat coming up!
He will do it Andrew!



Rudy

[dodgersfan]

Guess not.



Washington - Top of 9thSCOREPatrick Misch pitching for San FranciscoWASSFO P Misch relieved J Miller.42Cristian GuzmanStrike (foul), Strike (foul), Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Ball, C Guzman doubled to left42Nick JohnsonStrike (looking), Strike (foul), Ball, Ball, N Johnson singled to left center, C Guzman to third42Ryan ZimmermanStrike (looking), R Zimmerman grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, N Johnson out at second42Josh Willingham420 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors

[Bondsgloves]

Barry Zito in the 7th inning Intentional Walked Ryan Zimmerman who is on a 30 game hit streak. 1st base was open and this may keep Zim from having another at-bat as he is 0-2 in the game.

The crowd boo'd and they are playing in San Francisco!!!

There seems to me that this goes against the unwritten rules in baseball.

It was still a tight game at the time and runners on 2nd and third. Of course you would walk him, he's batting 360. The object is to win the game. If it was a blow out that would be a different story.

I don't think think any manager would have done anything different. This is not like stealing a base with a 10 run lead.

[godwulf]

You don't give up an advantage, like having a base open that you can put a dangerous hitter on, for fear of messing with a guy's streak. Where does that kind of thinking end? Do you not bunt for a base hit in the 7th, if the pitcher is throwing a perfect game? Some "unwritten rules" do make a little bit of sense, but not the ones that might help the other team win.

[AWA85]

I would walk him in a heart beat, first base is open not a very tough choice there.

[godwulf]

When Barry was still playing, it used to crack me up when the Gnats fans would hold up the rubber chickens and have a fit whenever anyone walked His Highness, but then their own pitchers would turn around and walk somebody like Junior Spivey or Craig Counsell.

[allstarsplus]

Early in the game, maybe. This appeared to be his last at-bat in the 7th inning. It was 2-0 at that point in the game, and I think you challenge the batter in that case. Still a 2/3 chance by the odds you get him out.

As it turned out, the Nats would score 2 more and get it to 4-0 and win 6-3.

[Bondsgloves]

Early in the game, maybe. This appeared to be his last at-bat in the 7th inning. It was 2-0 at that point in the game, and I think you challenge the batter in that case. Still a 2/3 chance by the odds you get him out.

As it turned out, the Nats would score 2 more and get it to 4-0 and win 6-3.

The other team doesn't care if its his first at bat or last at bat. The game was 2-0 still a very close game. You absolutely don't challenge the best hitter on the team with two runners in scoring position. There isn't a manager in the league that would do any different.

[AWA85]

There goes the Nats ESPN time and media coverage....