For one thing, while it seems like the simplest of acts to lob four pitches to a catcher standing well away from the batter’s box, things can and do occasionally go awry, which is always fun. Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis pointed out on Twitter that he has twice scored on errant pitches during intentional walks, one of which was featured in a video posted by another Twitter user.
But I've scored twice on an overthrow during an intentional walk... 🤔 https://t.co/cSHhsBQknY
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) February 22, 2017
I'm kind of disappointed to see the intentional walk disappear if only because I loved to see it botched every now and then.
— Editor Joe Veyera (@JoeVeyera) February 22, 2017
The flip side of that scenario comes when a pitcher actually gets his lob a little too close to the strike zone and an intrepid batter goes for it. That’s fun, too!
As we say goodbye to the intentional walk(for now), I'd like to remind everyone of this absolute boss moment from Miggy. pic.twitter.com/KouH4Ixvew
— Jason Ochart (@JasonOchart) February 22, 2017
I saw Will Clark single on an attempted intentional walk. It was awesome. Make them throw the dang pitches.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 22, 2017
Some online commenters made the case that the rule change will be so inconsequential, it’s hardly worth it.
Intentional walks took an estimated 1410 minutes in 2016.
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) February 22, 2017
That is 35 seconds per game. Is the automatic IBB really gonna fix pace of play?
932 intentional walks in 2,428 games last season. A baseball game is now, on average, 1.5 pitches shorter.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) February 22, 2017
Others, not surprisingly, took things in a less serious direction.
I like the moment of the intentional walk especially late in the game. I want the guy on deck to have enough time to get properly offended.
— Royals Nation (@RoyalsNation) February 22, 2017
Instead of cutting the intentional walk, make it more exciting! All intentional walks to be thrown by the center fielder, minimum 300 feet.
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) February 21, 2017
But if the ol’ four-pitch IBB must go, can we at least have some fun with the dugout signal? Twitter certainly thought we should (note: there were lots of middle-finger suggestions that won’t be passed along here).
Dugout signal: Manager must mimic Walk like an Egyptian dance. https://t.co/Rx8jjbxPiG
— Matt Wurst (@mwurst) February 22, 2017
The new @mlb intentional walk signal pic.twitter.com/we31jZCAPn
— Kosmic Tom (@tomthirtysix) February 22, 2017
This should be the new intentional walk signal. pic.twitter.com/xgLOrcL1lC
— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) February 22, 2017
This is the #sfgiants intentional walk signal Bochy will utilize https://t.co/ZoXM5lSGC0
— Sons of J. LeMaster (@SonsofJohnnieLe) February 22, 2017