From: "Tony Smith (CPL)" <Tony.Smith(at)press.co.nz> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <Fastball(at)pmihrm.com> Subject: Intentional Walk Rule Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:31:15 +1300
Gidday Al Greetings from Christchurch, New Zealand and Happy New Year to all list members. I'd just like to spark some debate about the intentional walk rule which Softball New Zealand has adopted under the behest of the ISF. I know it's been around a while now, but I'm no fan of allowing the hitter an automatic free pass to first base once the defensive team indicates the intentional walk. I've been told the rationale is to "speed up the game''. But I don't buy that for one moment. You speed up the game by encouraging more hustle between innings, not by introducing arbitrary rules like this one. To me, it detracts from the integrity of the game. I much prefer seeing pitchers forced to deliver four pitches to the batter. Why? Many times over the years I've seen pitchers throw the ball into the backstop to allow the tying or winning run to score from third base. Occasionally, I've seen them stray too close to the plate to allow a savvy hitter to lean over and punch the ball away for a game-winning RBI. How often did pitchers actually practise the intentional walk? It's not an easy thing for a pitcher accustomed to throwing on the corners to hurl four balls to a catcher standing up at the extreme edge of his area instead of crouching down behind the plate. Is this rule used at all major tournaments in North America? I notice Major League Baseball has yet to introduce a similar rule to "speed up the game''. Why is the ISF and constituent national associations trying to "speed up the game'' anyway. It's not as if fastpitch is watched by tens of thousands of fans. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. While I'm on my hobby-horse here, we had a situation in the New Zealand national under-19 men's tournament here in Christchurch last week where Penese Iosefo, a junior Black Sox pitcher and captain of the host Canterbury team, was intentionally walked FIFTEEN times! Including once in the final. Didn't stop him pitching his team to the tournament title for only the third time in its history and picking up the tournament MVP award. But it left a sour taste in the mouths of hometown fans. His coaches tried to remedy the situation by moving Penese up to lead-off from the clean-up spot. It worked in one game where he led off the inning four times. He was walked twice (pitched around, not intentionally) and picked up two hits from two ABs. Cheers Tony Smith Christchurch, NZ From: "Tony Smith (CPL)" <Tony.Smith(at)press.co.nz> Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball eScribe is down, but may be back soon escribe.com Our New Condo: http://www.rpt.ca/hunt/ for Sale or Rent _______________________________________________ Alsfastball mailing list Alsfastball@fastpitchwest.com http://fastpitchwest.com/mailman/listinfo/alsfastball_fastpitchwest.com