Should Barry Bonds be pitched around?

[WharfRat]

He put Ruth in an otherwise statistically average lineup (like the Giants, I guess) and ran a 1000+ seasons on the computer.

I know that one, pretty neat. But it was actually an extremely below-average lineup, IIRC. The years where Ruth was walked every time, the team scored a couple hundred more runs than the years where they pitched to him, I think. The guy hitting behind Ruth averaged something like .255, but with 170 RBIs when Ruth was walked. Pretty wild. Thanks for bringing that up.

[The Big Stick]

I know some of those intentional walks and beanings are due to the fact that pitchers don't want to be the one giving up 715. But from a purely baseball prespective. Can Bonds, who's hitting in the .250 range, still do enough damage to warrant all those walks and free passes?

I have never been a fan of the INT wlaks. I love watching a good old hitter/pitcher battle. That's why I love watching C Zambrano because he is not afraid of throwing it up and in or low and away. As far as a pitcher not wanting to give up 715, I remember several pitchers saying on ESPN TV and Radio, that they were just doing what they were told to do. I think some pitchers care while, some are just out to make good pitches and get an out.

[Pogotheostrich]

I don't see why you won't pitch to him. He is obviously not the same hitter he was.

[Lofunzo]

Big Stick.......Bushkill?? We have a place in Hemlock Farms.

[PlayingWithFire]

thanks for clearing that up

[The Big Stick]

Big Stick.......Bushkill?? We have a place in Hemlock Farms.

not far from me at all.