The Cubs load the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning on a single and two walks off Roki Sasaki. That brought up Kyle Tucker. With a 3-0 lead, Sasaki pitched carefully to Tucker, walking him to drive in the Cub first run of the game. This struck me as a defensive walk. With a three-run lead, walking Tucker was a better option than pitching to him and allowing a grand slam. Sasaki then strikes out the next two batters to end the inning. Saski walked five batters so far in the game, as the Cubs showed patience against him.
Note that this is a reason I’d like to see the value of the walk increased to two bases. That greatly reduces the defensive value of the free pass, and would force pitching to sluggers in that situation.
Disagree with two base BB as an improvement. Baseball doesn’t need more scoring, or more sluggers.
The league is over-emphasizing slugging for low average and low OBP, already, which is really hurting the game. What is needed is more BABIP… by any means necessary (talent ideally). BABIP++ punishes BB, IBB, HBP, defensive errors; promotes steals and plus runners. If you think about it is also promotes plus defense which currently too easy to carry weak fielders when everyone is striking out all the time.
When the baseball insiders think it is OK for pro hitters to bat .200 with a .250 OBP (note: this is not OK) all their other reasoning is fruit of the poison tree. The fans know. Baseball is boring when 27 HR and .212 average with 200 Ks makes a hitter $50M over a decade. That used to get you fired.
Not fair to criticize though, without making suggestions. I’m willing to be wrong too!
Personally I’d like to see some changes to IF defensive positioning that would open up more singles, and fewer double plays. In turn this would de emphasize swinging for the fences as keep the guys who can’t actually hit ALL the baseball pitches down in the minors where they belong.
For example hypothetically, like Bill Maher says:
NEW RULE: start all the IF defenders on the grass. Shift all you want, even, and you can pick the infield grass OR the outfield grass… before the pitch. But an infielder with either cleat in the dirt when the ball is in the air (?) is offsides. Somebody smarter than me can figure out the rules and mechanics from there but it would be easy to “throw the flag” or ump raises an arm etc… and then the offensive team decides whether to accept the play outcome (decline the penalty) or repeat the play, or score it as a ball or a balk etc. This is testable in sim.