No team is going to intentionally put the go-ahead run on in a tie game with the bases loaded.

If there had been runners at second and third and first base were open, they probably would have intentionally walked him.

The pitcher wants to try and throw pitches that he’ll either swing at and miss or hit poorly so it’s easily fielded. Yea, Judge can hit home runs but an MLB closer has studied him and thinks he knows what pitch to throw in a specific situation. Problems can arise when the planned pitch doesn’t hit its spot or Judge goes out and swings out of the zone with success. It’s always a duel and super fun to watch when you know what to watch for.

The fairly obvious:

Walking Judge forces in a run. No one ever likes to do that. But, you also don’t want to give him anything to good to hit. I did not see the at bat, but the final I think was 10-0 Yankees so not a tight game. More a game to finish and move on. Still, to the individual players it can be very important.

Your friend in Spain might enjoy the movie Moneyball as an introduction to the details behind the game that are common now, but new then.






L

Thanks so much!!

Only god can judge Aaron

I’m not expert, and didn’t watch the game, but some things to keep in mind-

Aaron Judge’s batting average is .323. Which is great. But it still means that less than half of the time does he get a hit.

Also, the closer (final pitcher) for the Red Sox is really good (although I think he’s been injured), so they likely hoped to get Judge out.

Other factors would be how many outs there were, who was home team (so was there another opp for Red Sox to score), etc.

What is Aaron judges on base percentage? How does he do with runners in scoring position? What is the pitchers ERA

It's a strategy that gets used, but with the bases loaded you don't see it very often. Aaron Judge hits a home run in about 8% of his at bats; he strikes out in about 25% of his at bats (not even counting other times he makes an out) The odds are in favor of trying to get an out.

Anonymous wrote:That dude is dumb

Why?

He didn't grow up playing baseball so he just doesn't understand all the rules and strategies. He's trying to learn. Why is that dumb?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, sometimes a pitcher will intentionally walk a batter. For whatever reason that was not the strategy this time.

Right - he's wondering what the "whatever reason" for that would be. Is there just no strategy?

Yes, sometimes a pitcher will intentionally walk a batter. For whatever reason that was not the strategy this time.

That dude is dumb

My good friend in Spain has asked me this baseball question. But I am not a baseball fan and don't have any idea. I wonder if anyone on this forum could help me (and him) out?

"Hi, there. I have a question for baseball experts. I watched the highlights of the game of the Yankees against the Red Sox where the result was 5-4. Last 4 runs of the Yankees were done when Aaron Judge made a homerun when all bases were loaded. That was because the pitcher tried to strike him out. Since Judge makes a homerun almost every game I have watched, wouldn't have been better to fail 4 balls, allowing to walk to 1st base, which means one run instead of 4, and try to strike out the next player, who maybe was easier to do so?"