IBB to Fielder.... right call?

[erik316wttn]

Obviously, the intentional walk to Fielder turned out not to harm us, as Kevin Mench made the last out of the game. However, the discussion of the move near the end of today's game thread got me thinking.

 

NSBB'ers, is it ever OK to intentionally walk an opposing batter? My personal opinion is that walking Fielder today was the correct move as he KILLS us. What about walking a Pujols or a Fielder or a Berkman in the 9th with 2 outs, runners at the corners, and the Cubs up by a run? Would it be ok then?

 

I think this will be a good debate with good arguments coming from both sides.

Edited August 31, 2007 by erik316wttn

[CUBZ99]

Not to nit pick, but Mench made the final out. I don't have a problem with the Cubs pitching around Fielder. A single by any player would have likely tied the game. There was an open base, and it created a force at every base.

[Balsa]

Absolutely it was ok. There is no doubt in my mind that was the correct call.

 

Lou took advantage of Fielder hitting in the cleanup spot.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The correct move would have been not to hit poor little Ricky Weeks for the 37th time.

 

As for the call, Its a toss up. Fielder had been held homerless and relatively quiet aside from that double off of Z last night, and while you could argue that Hart has been a lot better this series, you can also argue that Fielder was due to hit a 3 run jack. You really cant say. If Fielder did homer or double in a few runs, Lou would be criticized for not walking him. If Hart had doubled in a few, Lou would have been criticized for loading the bases for the guy who had done the most damage to the Cubs this series. It happened how it happened, and nobody can say this series didnt live up to the hype. Like every great thriller the bad guy has to get up again for one last scare.

[Brian]

Not to nit pick, but Mench made the final out.

 

Hart was forced out at 2nd, Mench caused it but Hart was the one called out.

[Ender]

Yes it was the right move, Fielder is around a 1.000 OPS player, Jenkins who any sane manager in baseball would have had hitting is a .870ish OPS guy. One hit ties the game and with Fielder that one hit might put them in the lead anyway.

 

Yost's decision to let Mench bat was probably the worst managerial decision made in baseball this season though and I hope he's instantly fired tonight because of it. Its a slap in the face of every Brewer fan that has gone to a game this season to leave out a .550 OPS vs righties player when you have your righty killer on the bench still.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't like giving a reliever no room to work with on the bases, especially Dempster. I also don't like making it so a double puts us down rather than a HR. Doubles are easier to hit than HRs.

 

If it was a tie game, 2 outs and nobody on do you walk Fielder there? If not then, then why here? It's not like Dempster was getting knocked around.

[erik316wttn]

Yes it was the right move, Fielder is around a 1.000 OPS player, Jenkins who any sane manager in baseball would have had hitting is a .870ish OPS guy. One hit ties the game and with Fielder that one hit might put them in the lead anyway.

 

Yost's decision to let Mench bat was probably the worst managerial decision made in baseball this season though and I hope he's instantly fired tonight because of it. Its a slap in the face of every Brewer fan that has gone to a game this season to leave out a .550 OPS vs righties player when you have your righty killer on the bench still.

 

I hope Yost sticks around until the end of the year. The more he drives the Brewers into the ground with his dumbassery (I made a new word!), the better it is for us.

 

But yes, Yost is a terrible manager.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't like giving a reliever no room to work with on the bases, especially Dempster. I also don't like making it so a double puts us down rather than a HR. Doubles are easier to hit than HRs.

 

If it was a tie game, 2 outs and nobody on do you walk Fielder there? If not then, then why here? It's not like Dempster was getting knocked around.

 

I don't think they put him on because they were worried about the home run (although that is a concern). I think they were worried about a single from one of the 2 best Brewers hitters, and also happened to be a left-hander which Dempster struggles with.

The dropoff from Fielder to their next best option against Dempster, Jenkins, is still a decently large one. If the Brewers do keep Hart and Mench in as Yost did, that's an absolutely massive difference (not only are they inferior hitters, but Dempster has a .654 OPS against left-handers and a .460 against right-handers).

 

As for doubles being easier to hit than homeruns, that's true. However, most doubles hit in Wrigley Field are not going to score Prince from 1st base.

[CUBZ99]

***** Edited August 31, 2007 by CUBZ99

[RynoRules]

I'd much rather take my chances with Hart than Fielder. To me its a no brainer.

[XZero771679666304]

I'd much rather take my chances with Hart than Fielder. To me its a no brainer.

 

I was sure that if Fielder was pitched to, he was going to go yard.

[ChiCubsFan]

Maybe if Fielder could run, the decision would be different. However, a gapper still wouldn't have scored Prince (although maybe it would have when Demp went 3-2), but nonetheless, it was the right call. I was debating with my stepdad when the move was made. He hates walking the bases loaded because he thinks it adds a lot more pressure on the pitcher to throw strikes. I think not pitching to Prince (who was due) far outweighs any of that.

[BCVM22]

Prince (who was due) far outweighs any of that.

 

You can say that again.

[SouthSideRyan]

Just because Fielder is fat doesn't mean he's slow. Probably about the same speed as DeRosa.

[Guest]

with a one run lead I like that move a lot less. with a two run lead, I probably would have done it. yost is a terrible manager.

[SouthSideRyan]

with a one run lead I like that move a lot less. with a two run lead, I probably would have done it. yost is a terrible manager.

 

See that's weird, I like the move a lot more with a 1 run lead. It sets up the game winning DP,(With a 2 run lead you can concede a run, and not necessarily need the DP) additionally that 3rd run on 1st base isn't as important as the runner that's already on 2nd, so who cares if Fielder's on.

[MPrior]

Prince (who was due) far outweighs any of that.

 

You can say that again.

 

Prince Fielder outweighs just about everything.

 

 

I'm not crazy about the move, but I don't hate it. I generally think that intentional walks are very rarely called for, and tend to increase the scoring potential of the other team. The best defense for the move is Dempster's struggles against lefties, combined with Fielder's general beastliness.

[soccer10k]

with a one run lead I like that move a lot less. with a two run lead, I probably would have done it. yost is a terrible manager.

 

See that's weird, I like the move a lot more with a 1 run lead. It sets up the game winning DP,(With a 2 run lead you can concede a run, and not necessarily need the DP) additionally that 3rd run on 1st base isn't as important as the runner that's already on 2nd, so who cares if Fielder's on.

 

I don't know if you're talking about a different situation but Fielder was walked with two outs so there was no need for a DP in this case.

 

Either way, I think Lou made the right move walking Prince in that situation.

[Fred Hornkohl]

That's it !!! Just don't pitch to the guy when he's "due" !!! .... if all the pitchers in the league would just to not pitch to Fielder whenever he's due.... then he'd never get any hits, and the Brewers would have to dump him, and he'd go down in history as one of the greatest baseball trivia questions.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[Peoriaman]

good move. And as somebody else said, Fielder was less likely to score on a extra base hit because of his lack of speed.

[TheDude]

The correct move would have been not to hit poor little Ricky Weeks for the 37th time.

 

You're suggesting this call came from the bench? Why would Lou want to hit Weeks again?

[rawaction]

I thought it was a no brainer. Dempster dominates RH hitters. Fielder's the NL leader in HRs and the most dangerous player in the Brewers lineup. If Fielder gets a hit (which he is more likely to do than Hart or Jenkins if Yost had pinch hit), then he's on base anyway, but with the score tied.

[Soul]

That's it !!! Just don't pitch to the guy when he's "due" !!! .... if all the pitchers in the league would just to not pitch to Fielder whenever he's due.... then he'd never get any hits, and the Brewers would have to dump him, and he'd go down in history as one of the greatest baseball trivia questions.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

 

Hahaha.

 

I also thought it was a good move -- Fielder has come through in a few late inning situations this year IIRC, he's one of the premiere hitters in the NL right now. First base open -- I was good with walking him.

 

I wasn't good with walking in the 4th run after, but Demp should get Mench out, which he did.

[da bears]

i thought it was a good move as well. as soon as fielder came up i was calling for the intentional walk.

 

by the way, i watched this game with about 8 cardinals fans, and i cant tell you how gratifying it is watching the cubs win when theres cards fans around. i tried to get them to sing go cubs go with me, but for some odd reason, they didnt want to join in. :wink: