In the bottom of the fourth inning of Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels gave Texas shortstop Corey Seager the ultimate sign of respect.
Seager came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Rather than try to get Seager out, the Angels put four fingers up, intentionally walking him to bring in a run.
The B̶a̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶B̶o̶n̶d̶s̶ Corey Seager treatment. pic.twitter.com/Nfs1RHAiR2
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 16, 2022
This decision had people talking. A lot of the conversation centered around the superstar in the Los Angeles outfield — though there were other observations.
Walking in a run already down by one, with a fresh reliever in the game. You are better off pulling the pitcher & optioning him immediately bc you have no faith in his ability. Seager is an incredible hitter, but what is happening to baseball?
— Jake Arrieta (@JArrieta34) April 16, 2022
Save Mike Trout https://t.co/89hwdaVzKb
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) April 16, 2022
Someone rescue Mike Trout. https://t.co/4yqAOAQiLH
— Mike Axisa (@mikeaxisa) April 16, 2022
Love Mike Trout’s quizzical look when he realizes Joe Maddon just issued a bases loaded intentional walk to Corey Seager…. https://t.co/y01n3SCyYd
— Bill Jones (@CBS11BillJones) April 16, 2022
Mike Trout’s face says it all… https://t.co/fML0p70aLl
— D.J. Short (@djshort) April 16, 2022
It was at this moment that Mike Trout realized he done goofed. https://t.co/3gsKUQW6GS
— Ethan (@EthanPond42) April 16, 2022
If this happened in an MLB video game we’d call it a bizarre glitch. https://t.co/Q4AUoAYrBh
— Tim Roberts (@21stCenturyTim) April 16, 2022
might be the dumbest thing i've ever seen https://t.co/pIxQ0C1F9N
— Todd (@bleacherbum099) April 16, 2022
https://t.co/qhr942Xzp4 pic.twitter.com/PlSqgQonAQ
— Baseball Liker, Despite All That (@JakeMHS) April 16, 2022
WHAT?
The Angels just intentionally walked in a run in the 4th inning instead of facing Corey Seager with the bases loaded/1 out.
WHAT?
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 16, 2022
This is not unprecedented. It happened with Barry Bonds in 1998 and with Josh Hamilton in 2008. Hamilton’s walk came against the Tampa Bay Rays, who were then managed by Joe Maddon — who presently manages the Angels.
Intentional walks with bases loaded, since 1950:
Corey Seager, tonight
Josh Hamilton, 2008
Barry Bonds, 1998Tonight & '08 were vs Joe Maddon-managed teams
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 16, 2022
But the Bonds and Hamilton situations were a lot different. Both of those situations happened in the ninth inning with two outs. Additionally, both Bonds’ Giants and Hamilton’s Rangers were trailing in the game.
The walk moved Bonds’ Giants to within one run. But it also must be remembered that Bonds didn’t start that game. As such, he was not batting in the middle of the order in front of a dangerous hitter like Jeff Kent. So, while the walk scored a runner and moved the winning run to second base, it was calculated — and it worked. The Arizona Diamondbacks retired the next hitter, Brent Mayne, and won the game.
Hamilton, meanwhile, came up with the bases loaded and his team trailing by four runs. The walk was risky. It scored a run, put the tying run on base and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. But ultimately, fearing a Hamilton home run as much as a Marlon Byrd extra-base hit is also a well-thought-out response. Similarly, it worked.
In both cases, even if the decision had backfired, it would be easy to understand what the manager was thinking. In this case? Not so much.
This was in the middle of the game with the Angels already trailing. The walk not only allowed Texas to go up by another run, but also kept the man at third with less than two outs situation. The Rangers took advantage of that, when Mitch Garver hit a sacrifice fly. Marcus Semien then scored on a balk. So, Texas scored three runs out of the situation, only one fewer than would have scored with a grand slam by Seager.
Maddon is one of the best managers in baseball. He entered Friday’s game with a career record of 1358-1191. But in this case, he might have out-thought himself.
[Photo Credit: Bally Sports Southwest]