playing with 8

[bbman]

Team A is playing with 8 due to injury during game. Automatic out when she comes up. Auto out is the 9th position in batting order.
Situation:
Team A batting, two outs, runners on second & third. #8 hitter up. Can the defense intentionally walk (or otherwise) #8 to get the auto out for the third out? Or would they now skip #9 in the batting order?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by bbman

Can the defense intentionally walk (or otherwise) #8 to get the auto out for the third out?

Yes.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Yes.

Another reason to get rid of the Fed intentional walk.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

Another reason to get rid of the Fed intentional walk.

The "Fed intentional walk" is a good thing. USA should adopt it.

Or, we could just use the Don Drysdale approach. His manager instructed him to intentionally walk the next batter. Drysdale promptly plunked him in the back. Asked about it later he said "why waste 3 pitches?"

But that's getting us off topic...

[Skahtboi]

I disagree that the automatic pass is a good rule. In what situations is the intentional walk used? Usually with a runner on second, third, or second and third, and a fairly intimidating batter at bat in a close game. This takes away from the offense, potentionally, 4 chances to score. (Yes, the way around it is an intentional hit batsman, as noted, but there is also a penalty for that should an umpire feel it intentional) Wild pitches happen. Passed balls happen.

One of the most exciting finishes to a game I have ever seen, happens this way. Years ago, with Michael Young on third and a tie game, the Rangers won on a passed ball that allowed him to score. Also, in a 14 inning playoff game in HS that I had the luck of having the plate for; a 1-1 score in the bottom of the 14th, runners on 2 and 3, the defense opted to walk the batter. The second pitch went awry and the runner from 3rd dashed home. Had this single event not occurred, I fear, these many years later, I would be standing there still.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

One of the most exciting finishes to a game I have ever seen, happens this way. Years ago, with Michael Young on third and a tie game, the Rangers won on a passed ball that allowed him to score. Also, in a 14 inning playoff game in HS that I had the luck of having the plate for; a 1-1 score in the bottom of the 14th, runners on 2 and 3, the defense opted to walk the batter. The second pitch went awry and the runner from 3rd dashed home. Had this single event not occurred, I fear, these many years later, I would be standing there still.

To me, that's not exciting - it's anticlimactic. Probably not too exciting if it was the Rangers that lost the game. Walk off wild pitches, walk off balks are not exciting. Lots of other things are, too numerous to list.

If I'm the PU in your 14 inning game, I'm disappointed in the way it ended.

I've lived this type of situation in softball as a pitcher. In the bottom of the 10th inning in a 0-0 game, with 2 outs and a runner on third base, I threw a pitch that was missed by my catcher. Probably a wild pitch, maybe a passed ball - doesn't matter. Losing a game like that was disheartening. Had the batter delivered a base hit to win the game, tip your hat - but to lose a game like we did was worse.

The intentional pass is to speed up the game. If your offensive game plan is relying on a wild pitch on a 4-pitch intentional walk, you need remedial training.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

Another reason to get rid of the Fed intentional walk.

Curious to know what the other "n" reasons are...

[Tru_in_Blu]

I apologize - this did end up as a hijack.

Should have its own string on the pros and cons of the intentional walk.

Exciting news: https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/...or-1920864.php

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Exciting news: https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/...or-1920864.php

Another reason to get rid of the Fed/MLB intentional walk. Offense and defense doing their job.