IBB to Fielder.... right call?

[FergieJ31]

I would have called for an unintentional intentional walk, even though pitching around Prince carries some risk. Demp might throw a WP or accidentally groove one, but IMO it's slightly less risky than intentionally loading the bases. And there's a very reasonable chance that Fielder swings at a bad pitch and ends the game.

 

 

btw, that Prince Fielder vs. Artist Formerly Known As Prince graphic was hilarious :lol:

[NCCubFan]

I would have called for an unintentional intentional walk, even though pitching around Prince carries some risk.

I would have done that too, but I don't think walking him was a bad move.

[BigbadB]

Nope. Cubs made the right move just sending him on down to first. There are guys on teams who you just don't pitch to when there is a base open. Prince Fielder is one of those guys.

[rawaction]

I would have called for an unintentional intentional walk, even though pitching around Prince carries some risk. Demp might throw a WP or accidentally groove one, but IMO it's slightly less risky than intentionally loading the bases. And there's a very reasonable chance that Fielder swings at a bad pitch and ends the game.

 

I've never understood that. Why tell a pitcher to throw at full strength just to throw the ball OUT of the strikezone? Especially, when the result is extremely likely to have the same result. Hitters know when they are being pitched around. I don't think it's as reasonable as you think that he swings at a bad ball he knows is coming. Better off just having the pitcher throw 4 warmup tosses to the catcher and putting him on intentionally. You are counting on way too many things to happen with a pitch around. Counting on a bad defensive catcher blocking pitches in the dirt. Counting on that if Fielder swings at 1 bad pitch he hits it directly to a fielder that can record and out. Or counting on him swinging at 3 bad pitches for the strikeout.

[Derwood]

if you're gonna put him on intentionally, the least you can do is shatter his kneecap or something

[Fred Hornkohl]

if you're gonna put him on intentionally, the least you can do is shatter his kneecap or something

 

Hmmm .... crude, but effective !!

[Yestheydo]

Just like the Kendall hit & run last week -- if it works, it was the right move. If not, the manager is a reprehensible moron.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would have called for an unintentional intentional walk, even though pitching around Prince carries some risk. Demp might throw a WP or accidentally groove one, but IMO it's slightly less risky than intentionally loading the bases. And there's a very reasonable chance that Fielder swings at a bad pitch and ends the game.

 

I've never understood that. Why tell a pitcher to throw at full strength just to throw the ball OUT of the strikezone? Especially, when the result is extremely likely to have the same result. Hitters know when they are being pitched around. I don't think it's as reasonable as you think that he swings at a bad ball he knows is coming. Better off just having the pitcher throw 4 warmup tosses to the catcher and putting him on intentionally. You are counting on way too many things to happen with a pitch around. Counting on a bad defensive catcher blocking pitches in the dirt. Counting on that if Fielder swings at 1 bad pitch he hits it directly to a fielder that can record and out. Or counting on him swinging at 3 bad pitches for the strikeout.

 

I don't remember who it was against, but last week the team playing the Brewers were UI IBBing Fielder and he expanded the zone rolled over a ball that was outside into an easy Pierre to end the game. It has its merits, but I'd rather do it with a pitcher with better control than Dempster.

 

And yeah, my bad on the DP thing, I don't know what I was thinking.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't remember who it was against, but last week the team playing the Brewers were UI IBBing Fielder and he expanded the zone rolled over a ball that was outside into an easy Pierre to end the game. It has its merits, but I'd rather do it with a pitcher with better control than Dempster.

 

Agreed on all points, just to add that I saw that happen to Fielder too, or it might've been another one since I thought I remember him popping up. Either way, reinforcing that Fielder isn't immune to getting himself out even when he's obviously being pitched around.

[Z38Cubs]

I would have called for an unintentional intentional walk, even though pitching around Prince carries some risk. Demp might throw a WP or accidentally groove one, but IMO it's slightly less risky than intentionally loading the bases. And there's a very reasonable chance that Fielder swings at a bad pitch and ends the game.

 

I've never understood that. Why tell a pitcher to throw at full strength just to throw the ball OUT of the strikezone? Especially, when the result is extremely likely to have the same result. Hitters know when they are being pitched around. I don't think it's as reasonable as you think that he swings at a bad ball he knows is coming. Better off just having the pitcher throw 4 warmup tosses to the catcher and putting him on intentionally. You are counting on way too many things to happen with a pitch around. Counting on a bad defensive catcher blocking pitches in the dirt. Counting on that if Fielder swings at 1 bad pitch he hits it directly to a fielder that can record and out. Or counting on him swinging at 3 bad pitches for the strikeout.

 

I don't remember who it was against, but last week the team playing the Brewers were UI IBBing Fielder and he expanded the zone rolled over a ball that was outside into an easy Pierre to end the game. It has its merits, but I'd rather do it with a pitcher with better control than Dempster.

 

And yeah, my bad on the DP thing, I don't know what I was thinking.

 

Yea, that was last week against the Reds and David Weathers. It was actually 1st and 2nd with the winning run at 1st. Braun was on deck. Looking at gameday, all 5 pitches were outisde of the strike zone.

[biittner77]

if you're gonna put him on intentionally, the least you can do is shatter his kneecap or something

 

Hmmm .... crude, but effective !!

 

Why wait until the last game against them to do this?

[gflore34]

I thought it was the right call however, I was worried that Dempster would walk in two or more runs. But, the saving grace is the Brewers are actually worse than the Cubs at drawing BB's and Mench will swing as long as the pitch resides in the same zip code.

[soccer10k]

I've never understood that. Why tell a pitcher to throw at full strength just to throw the ball OUT of the strikezone? Especially, when the result is extremely likely to have the same result.

 

Plus then you're going to come back and ask Dempster to throw strikes to the very next batter. Just do it intentionally and be done with it.