intentional walk
Deliberate free base
An intentional walk in baseball is when a pitcher deliberately throws four balls outside the strike zone to walk a batter, allowing him to reach first base rather than risk letting him hit.
Teams use it strategically against dangerous hitters, especially with runners in scoring position: They gave him the intentional walk to set up a double play.
mechanics
Exemption from consequences
- base on ballsFour pitches outside zone
- uncontestedFacing no rivals
- plateFlat dish for food
- first baseDiamond's rightfield corner bag
respect
Fourth-spot power batter
- hot streakSustained period of success
- sluggerPowerful baseball batter
- batting titleHighest average distinction
- MVPBest player award
strategy
Scheduled competitive pairing
- force outCompel to leave
- pitching aroundDeliberately missing the strike zone
- batting orderSequence of hitters
- game theoryStudy of strategic interaction
reaction
Vocal expression of disapproval
- anticlimacticDisappointingly weak after buildup
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- unwritten rulesUnstated behavioral expectations
- pace of playSpeed of game progression
free pass
Exemption from consequences
- base on ballsFour pitches outside zone
- uncontestedFacing no rivals
- plateFlat dish for food
cleanup hitter
Fourth-spot power batter
- hot streakSustained period of success
- sluggerPowerful baseball batter
- batting titleHighest average distinction
matchup
Scheduled competitive pairing
- force outCompel to leave
- pitching aroundDeliberately missing the strike zone
- batting orderSequence of hitters
booing
Vocal expression of disapproval
- anticlimacticDisappointingly weak after buildup
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- unwritten rulesUnstated behavioral expectations
- baseball tacticshit and run, double steal, pickoff, steal, sacrifice bunt
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- baseball skillsbatting, pitching, catching, fielding, throwing
- baseball rulesbalk, strike zone, foul ball, fair ball, dead ball
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
- coaching decisionssubstitutions, time out, rotation, benching, lineup changes
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