Intentional Walk: The Scariest Pitch in Baseball (Humor)

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

It happens every couple of game. It starts with the catcher sticking his arm out and calling for the intentional walk.

Now, this article isn't arguing against using intentional walks by any means. But I do hate them, and here's why.

The manager calls for the intentional walk, and the first few intentional balls go well and as planned. But there's always that one. That one throw that makes your heart stop for a second. I know all baseball fans have experienced this one time or another.

It's your team throwing the intentional walk, and maybe for a second, the at-bat loses your attention. But, then it happens. 

One out of the four intentional walk pitches starts out worrisome. The pitcher goes into a semi-wind and it catches your attention. He puts a little too much power into the throw and you get that look in your face like, "What the hell is he doing?"

There's men on base and the pitcher has, at least so you assume, forgotten it's an intentional walk, and throws the ball about 90 miles per hour at the catcher way too far out of the strike zone.

For a second you think the pitch is going to go crazy, hit the backstop, and circle around like when hockey players dump the puck in the NHL, and every base runner is going to score.

Maybe it's just me, but every time an intentional walk is called, this pitch is the first thing that enters my mind. That dreadful, way too far out of the zone ball that the catcher has to make an amazing dive in order to catch. Although, just about every time those unbelievable catchers do make the grab. 

I've written this article to get the word out there: Pitchers, please take your time when you're asked to throw an intentional walk, because every time that horrible, horrible off the mark pitch is thrown, I lose a second off my life.

Thanks.

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