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The Demise of the Intentional Walk and Rise of the K Zone: Atlanta Braves Implications

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (27) looks towards the umpires during a stop in play in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. The Indians won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (27) looks towards the umpires during a stop in play in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. The Indians won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 22, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia (14) speaks with umpires Brian Knight (L) and Bill Miller (R) on a foul call in the sixth inning against Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
April 22, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia (14) speaks with umpires Brian Knight (L) and Bill Miller (R) on a foul call in the sixth inning against Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Four Wide or 4 Fingers?  Rule changes may be coming coming that would effect both balls and strikes for next season.

Baseball’s Competition Committee is at it again – changing rules that are intended both to increase offense and the ‘pace of play’.

These changes are not yet etched in stone – that comes via the Rules Committee, which may or may not also get buy-in from the MLB Players’ Association.  If approved by one or more of those groups, then you can look forward to changes for the 2017 season and beyond.

The Changes

  • The Strike Zone.  It would get smaller… from below the knee to above the knee.  We are used to the idea that the zone extends from armpits to the “knees”.  In reality, it hasn’t been armpit-high for a number of years (decades?).  But the distinction between above/below a kneecap represents a good 4 inches of space, and thus this is a major change.
  • The Intentional Walk.  No longer would there be 4 token lobbed ‘pitches’ to a catcher in a stance that looks like he’s giving parking signals to an airplane.  The IBB could be relegated to a manager’s whistle from the dugout followed by 4 waving fingers.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

I like the intentional walk as it is today.  Not so much for baseball reasons except for the few times each year that something goes pear-shaped in the process, and that means few highlights:

There’s another possible issue.  The time it takes to issue a free pass today effectively gives a bullpen reliever another 45 seconds or more to get warmed up.  That’s time that would be lost with this new procedure.

Games that go squirrelly quickly for teams often feature multiple delaying tactics – catcher visits the mound, then a pitching coach – all in the name of making sure that a reliever-to-come is properly warmed up.  An intentional walk is also one of those tactics.

Sure, the pace of play might be improved slightly, but at what cost?  The potential for more runs being allowed down the road because a reliever isn’t ready?  Or (more likely) will new delaying schemes arise to replace this one?

One example:  an increase in use of the “unintentional/intentional” walk.  4 pitches… none hittable.

I might be persuaded to allow teams the option to wave-off the four pitches and allow the batter to move on to first base.  And it’s plausible that a new rule would allow for this to happen… or to throw four lobs.

Regardless:  that’s almost irrelevant compared to the other change proposed…

Next: Lucky Strikes

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