Use of the term "walk off"

[back2backjax]

i need to hear some other opinions on this. i've always considered a walk off win to be when the losing team is literally walking off the field while the winning run scores. for instance, a home run where the losing team starts off the field while the winning run is trotting the bases. or a deep sac fly against a drawn in outfield where the losing team knows instantly the game is over. or even a single to the outfield when the winning run is at 3rd. the common thread is that there is no play at home on the winning run and one team knows they've lost before the run scores.

 

i bring this up because every last at-bat win is being called a "walk off win" these days. when cedeno scored the winner against the giants the other day on an extremely close play at home, it was called a walk off win. when macias scored the game winner yesterday and there was a play at the plate (albeit not a particularly close one) it was called a walk off win. i just don't get it.

 

how can we start a movement to stop the media from stupidly calling these types of endings "walk offs"?

[sweetpeteman]

A pitcher made the term famous for when he said something along the lines of "Its a walk-off homer, he hits it, and everyone walks off the field."

 

It applies because the run or runs score and they (the losers) walk off the field, so it works for when the home team scores the winning run in the bottom of the 9th and beyond, because they score and everyone else walks off the field.

[back2backjax]

A pitcher made the term famous for when he said something along the lines of "Its a walk-off homer, he hits it, and everyone walks off the field."

 

It applies because the run or runs score and they (the losers) walk off the field, so it works for when the home team scores the winning run in the bottom of the 9th and beyond, because they score and everyone else walks off the field.

 

yeah, but it hasnt always been that way. based on that logic, every bottom of the 9th win is a walk off win and that's stupid.

[anemic offense]

I believe the term is loosely used to describe the home team driving in the winning run at the end of the game. IMO, whether or not the visiting/losing team is giving up as the play is progressing is irrelevant. The term "walk off" is simply referrring to the circumstances of which the winning run was scored, ie by the home team at the end of the game, whereafter both teams walk of the field. I think that's where the referrence comes from.

[ironchef21]

A pitcher made the term famous for when he said something along the lines of "Its a walk-off homer, he hits it, and everyone walks off the field."

 

It applies because the run or runs score and they (the losers) walk off the field, so it works for when the home team scores the winning run in the bottom of the 9th and beyond, because they score and everyone else walks off the field.

 

I believe it was Dennis Eckersley

[AubCubFan]

I totally agree. Walk-Off should only be used when its a true walk-off win. A comeback win shouldnt count.

[EricG]

If the home team wins after the top of the ninth they usually have a celebration at the mound. When the road team wins after the bottom of the ninth the same thing happens. When the home team wins in the bottom of the ninth the defense is for the losing team is still on the field and they don't celebrate a loss so they "walk off".

[Derwood]

I always apply it to any win by the home team in the bottom of the 9th (or extra innings). I tapplies to any game in which the final out(s) of the inning are not necessary.

[10man]

I always apply it to any win by the home team in the bottom of the 9th (or extra innings). I tapplies to any game in which the final out(s) of the inning are not necessary.

Best definition so far. Another way to put it is when the home team wins and the game ends with less than 3 outs tallied in the last inning.

[Soul]

I always apply it to any win by the home team in the bottom of the 9th (or extra innings). I tapplies to any game in which the final out(s) of the inning are not necessary.

Best definition so far. Another way to put it is when the home team wins and the game ends with less than 3 outs tallied in the last inning.

 

OK. That's a new definition though. That's broader than it used to be. The definition above works for when the home team singles in the winning run in the 9th. And "walk-off" was never, ever used in that case before.

[Gracies Girl]

Don't forget the occasional "walk-off walk." :roll:

[genghiskhan]

Don't forget the occasional "walk-off walk." :roll:

 

Such as the one by Kenny Rogers that gave the 1999 pennant to the Braves.

 

To my knowledge, "walk-off" has always referred to the home team winning in the bottom of the 9th and extras, as defined above.