How Effective is the IBB?

[JourneyingBraves]

I was wondering if there was a statistic out there scoring how effective an IBB with RISP is? I'm just wondering what it does to the mind set of a Pitcher when avioding someone like a Bonds or Pujols and putting him aboard even with a RISP..I'm just wondering If anyone knows what hitters are hitting after an IBB has been issued and what some of the Cafe members think of their starting pitchers/ closers putting people on intentionally. Do you think its good or bad?

[smoovethug]

I hate giving out the IBB to load the bases, it just seems like the pitcher always walks in a run afterwards and it drives me nuts, especially with a pitcher prone to wildness or who has already been missing his spots earlier.

[JourneyingBraves]

bump anyone else with an opinion

[RynMan]

I agree, walking the bases loaded is a bad idea. Can't count the number of times I have seen the winning run get scored on a hit by pitch.

The Expected Runs Matrix gives you some answers. Basically it tells you (based on research), that intentionally walking anyone is a bad idea, period. However, if the winning run is on third, I don't have a problem walking a guy to put him on first. If there are none out and bases empty in that position, the likelyhood of the team scoring the run is very high.