Yesterday, the MLB approved the use of a dugout signal for intentional walks.
What that means is that when a team decides to intentionally walk a player, they don’t have to throw the four pitches outside the zone, they instead just need to motion to the ump. This is apparently being done in an effort to speed the game up.
Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, that will speed the game up approximately 14 seconds per game over an entire season.
Now, we may not have witnessed many of the greatest intentional walk moments, because they happen very rarely, but they are part of what can contribute to baseball folklore. It’s the fact that the ball is always live and no matter the scenario, players have to be on their toes. Whether you watch the Miguel Cabrera RBI-single, Gary Sanchez’s near homerun or the John Olerud fake, there are many moments that can help build legends in the sport.
With the statistical development of baseball, arguments about the best players in history become more cut and dry, but if Miggy is the player you preach for, it’s a fun addition to the conversation that he once drove in a run on an intentional walk. Who does that?
Either way, the rule has changed and it’s unlikely to come back. So, let us remember the best moments to come from these four unnecessary pitches in the past.
John Olerud gets faked out
