Enough with the Walks Already!
Everyone in baseball, I suspect, is getting kind of fed up with the way opposing managers have chosen to "deal" with the power of Barry Bonds. Just walk the guy. At this writing, he has 42 walks, 12 more than his nearest competitor. He's been walked at least once in 21 of 30 games. Fans don't come to the ballyard to see walks. They come to see offense and while there are strategic times when walking Barry makes eminent sense, many of these are just "I'm scared" kinds of walks that have no place in the game.
My baseball buddies and I talk about this a lot. You can't outright ban walks, even intentional walks, because they are an integral part of the game. But I think we need a new rule to discourage frequent walks of the same player and I have a modest proposal that would have that efffect.
Under my proposed rule, it would be legal to walk any hitter once. If, after walking a guy once in a game, you walk him again intentionally (and I'm suggesting a change in the definition of the word "intentional" below), all runners on base move up two positions, rather than one.
An intentional walk gets redefined as follows:
(1) A hitter who has not yet been walked in the game can be intentionally walked by the defensive team notifying the umpire. No need to watch four straight pitches soar 3 miles outside the plate area.
(2) A hitter who has been walked at least once in the game cannot be walked intentionally at all and if he is walked, all runners on base advance two bases when he is walked. To facilitate this rule:
(a) The umpire can rule any ball an intentional ball if it is clearly intended not to be in the vicinity of the strike zone. This will force pitchers to keep the ball in the general neighborhood of the plate.
(b) The existing rule that says a catcher may not leave the catcher's box until the pitcher has actually thrown a pitch will be strictly enforced. Right now, on intentional passes, it's just flagrantly ignored.
What do you think? Got some better ideas? Join me on my discussion board and let's talk sports!
12:47:06 PM 
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