Do managers ask the at-bat to take a hit-by-pitch for the team, just to get a chance to win a tie game?
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Is nomar good in the NL and good in AL in 2004 (boston red sox)?
NOPE!Managers will on occassion tell their pitcher to throw at an opposing batter, but I have NEVER heard of a manager asking a player to take one for the team. The problems with the idea are many:
1. What if the pitcher is throwing strikes? You can't lean in over the plate to intentionally get hit by a pitch. So, here you are trying to carry out this order to take a pitch in the ribs and the ball is coming down peach tree!
2. The risk of injury would be great! We're talking multi-million dollar athletes here! You cannot ask a man to risk his livelihood in that way.
3. EVEN if he did get hit, it's JUST one man on first base! That's not exactly a sure-fire victory! What's your plan for moving him around the bases? At some point you need a hit! So, why not just have that first man swinging?
Yankee fans, the Mariners didn't beat the Yankees last night, the umpires did! Am I right?
He shouldn't have to ask. I would do it for my team!Why is Alex Rodriguez cooling down?
I really don't think they ask them to. A lot of times the player just knows too. A.J. Pierzynski #12, Chicago White Sox, for example. If he thinks it's going to be a close call, and they are in a close game, he knows to take a hit for the team.Is A-Rod going to break Hank Aaron's record...Tonight?
A smart manager can suggest that a hitter might not try too hard if the "pitcher is a bit wild". He'd be smart to do so, telling the batter to "Take one for the team". But he can't control where the pitcher is throwing or whether he has good control that day. So he'd be more likely to say, "He's been off on his control; take the first pitch, and let's see if he's still a little wild. I want you to get ahead in the count and maybe work a walk, but anyway--let the first one go by and let's see how much this guy has left in his gas tank."More Questions & Answers...