Automatic Intentional Walk Coming

[imref]

ESPN reporting that the owners and the union have agreed to allow an automatic intentional walk instead of requiring the throwing of actual pitches. 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18737245/mlb-union-agree-get-rid-traditional-intentional-walkwill-use-signal-dugout

[HalfSmokes]

One of the best movements in a game is when the pitcher is falling apart and throws a past ball on an intentional walk

[Minty Fresh]

 

 

 

[mitlen]

My unscientific survey says Zimmerman takes more time adjusting his gloves than it takes to throw four balls.

[GburgNatsFan]

Yup. Want to speed up the game? Outlaw Velcro batting gloves.

My unscientific survey says Zimmerman takes more time adjusting his gloves than it takes to throw four balls.

[imref]

Yup. Want to speed up the game? Outlaw Velcro batting gloves.

[houston-nat]

One of the best movements in a game is when the pitcher is falling apart and throws a past ball on an intentional walk

Or when an idiot manager calls in a new reliever and has the new reliever IBB his very first batter, and then he unintentionally BBs the next couple batters cuz he didn't warm up to throw strikes.

[The Chief]

meh

[RobDibblesGhost]

Not a fan of this. How often does an IBB happen anyway? Definitely not in a majority of games. Congrats, Manfred, you just cut 75 seconds off of a handful of games.

[varoadking]

Not a fan of this. How often does an IBB happen anyway? Definitely not in a majority of games. Congrats, Manfred, you just cut 75 seconds off of a handful of games.

Manfred said it was one of a package of ideas but the only one to be approved.  I agree though...Pretty worthless and just messes with the game...

[Mathguy]

Agree.  Next thing we know, the pitcher will become mechanical

Not a fan of this. How often does an IBB happen anyway? Definitely not in a majority of games. Congrats, Manfred, you just cut 75 seconds off of a handful of games.

[mitlen]

Over/under on the first time the umps and teams have a brain fart and the pitcher throws four balls.     Not sure what happens (haven't seen this subject) if the batter has a 2-0 count and the opposing team decides to walk him.    Does he take his base after 2 balls?

[imref]

Over/under on the first time the umps and teams have a brain fart and the pitcher throws four balls.     Not sure what happens (haven't seen this subject) if the batter has a 2-0 count and the opposing team decides to walk him.    Does he take his base after 2 balls?

I wonder if this will lead to more pitching around folks?

[Natsinpwc]

Can't get too excited one way or the other about this change. 
I saw last year games increased about 3 minutes over the year before--if it keep going that way they will be four hours so they need to find someway to speed things up.

[mitlen]

I wonder if this will lead to more pitching around folks?

In sports, for every action there's a re-action.    I'm sure there's seam heads in the organization somewhere trying to figure out how to use this new rule to their/our advantage.

[RobDibblesGhost]

It's official now but managers will still have the option of doing it the old-fashioned way by throwing four pitches. So if they need to buy some time - which is often the case - they'll just do it like they do now, saving zero time. Good work, MLB!



Maureen Mullen‏ @MaureenaMullen  · 32m32 minutes ago 

Re new MLB rules: am told mgrs have OPTION of throwing 4 pitches for IBB or not. So, if they need to buy some time, throw 4.

[RiotAct]

One of the best movements in a game is when the pitcher is falling apart and throws a past ball on an intentional walk

Flashbacks to the 2014 NLDS...