Why isn't this a rule in baseball?

[Jhill]

I don't watch baseball but I did as a kid. I've always wondered when they want to intentially walk someone why do they have to throw 4 pointless pitches. Why can't the pitcher just point to first and have the batter take first? It would save time and nothing ever happens (like a stolen base or a wild pitch) during the 4 pitches.

 

[Maleficus]

That would be funny to see, the pitcher just points and the guy and he runs to first base.

 

[minendo]

Pitch count is crucial.

 

[zer0burn]

what if theres a passed ball or wild pitch???

seen it happen before

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: minendo
Pitch count is crucial.

yea you need to wear down the pitcher

 

[goldboyd]

Once in a while the pitcher throws it away. I saw Juan Assevedo do it this year, for example.

 

[Gaard]

So that we're treated 4 more times to watching the hitters go thru their idiotic prepitch routines...like Nomar.

 

[Ph33zy]

just to make it "official." anything can happen in a real game..

 

[fr]

So they can fake deciding to walk someone on 3-2 it and throw a strike down the middle.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: Gaard
So that we're treated 4 more times to watching the hitters go thru their idiotic prepitch routines...like Nomar.

At least Nomar's quick about it. Bernie takes so-called "late night strolls in the park" between pitches (I think that was Bob Costas).

But yeah... in case the pitcher throws a wild pitch or something...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: minendo
Pitch count is crucial.

its not like you're throwing heat though

 

[bubbadu]

In our minor league team here in Vermont, in the CHAMPIONSHIP game, the oppisisng team went to walk someone in the ninth and the stupid catcher droped the ball... we scored and the game was over.. it was great 😛

 

[Doodoo]

I remember once when a batter actually reached for one of those pitches and got a hit...so anything can happen.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Jhill
I don't watch baseball but I did as a kid. I've always wondered when they want to intentially walk someone why do they have to throw 4 pointless pitches. Why can't the pitcher just point to first and have the batter take first? It would save time and nothing ever happens (like a stolen base or a wild pitch) during the 4 pitches.

because the pitcher has to throw pitches to ruin his era. If you give the base away you give your stats away too

 

[gururu]

1) to add 4 balls to the pitchers stats
2) to give the hitter 'the' choice of going for it
3) to provide an opportunity for a wild pitch
4) to make the pitcher work for the walk
5) to allow the pitcher to fake or change his mind

in other words, it would be way too easy on the pitcher to walk a batter if he didn't have to go through the motions.

 

[Miramonti]

In the early 70's the A's(?) pretended to walk Johnny Bench with a full count.

With his bat on his shoulder expecting a walk the pitcher threw it by him and struck him out. 😀

 

[Jombo]

because you need 4 balls to give a walk. think that's in the rules, you can't just point, how dumb is that? could you fake out the batter by, faking the pointing to throw everyone off? will that be like balking?

everything that counts in the game needs to be in play.. your question is just like asking "why do they have the qb kneel down to end the game? when they can just say, we're up and there's lil over a min left, we got 4 downs and we just want to go home.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

What's up with baseball? If I had 4 balls I wouldn't be able to stand let alone walk.

 

[SP33Demon]

MARLINS WIN!!!!

 

[Rastus]

All the pitcher has to do is balk, that is if someone isn't on second or third base with first open.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: bubbadu
In our minor league team here in Vermont, in the CHAMPIONSHIP game, the oppisisng team went to walk someone in the ninth and the stupid catcher droped the ball... we scored and the game was over.. it was great 😛

Lol the vermont expos won the champioship for the minor league?

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: Jhill
I don't watch baseball but I did as a kid. I've always wondered when they want to intentially walk someone why do they have to throw 4 pointless pitches. Why can't the pitcher just point to first and have the batter take first? It would save time and nothing ever happens (like a stolen base or a wild pitch) during the 4 pitches.

The reason is because ANYTHING can happen within that sequence of events. The catcher can drop the ball, etc. THAT is why it happens.

 

[PoPPeR]

well I think everyones just about covered it.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: shady06

Originally posted by: minendo
Pitch count is crucial.

its not like you're throwing heat though

Does not matter. He is still throwing the ball.

 

[PunDogg]

keeps the player guessing, they could pitch outside, then suddenly throw a strike,

Dogg