Superman (Beltran) does it again. Two 1 hitters going into the 9th, and then Beltran singles and steals second, which sets up everything. LaRussa blew it. You have a 2-2 count on Berkman, and then you decide to walk him intentionally :crazy: ?
Bob Brenly and McCarver said he should but I SAY NO WAY. OK if it is 3-2, you give him nothing to hit, but this was 2-2 so I say to pitch to him, and if you can get him to strikeout, then walk Kent, and pitch to Ensberg. Lifetime Berkman and Kent are both 2-8 vs Isringhausen, while Ensberg is 0-3. Berkman and Kent are far better hitters than Ensberg.
What risk do you have pitching to Berkman, with 2 strikes? Here are the scenarios
1.) Berkman gets a hit then game over, but same with Kent. No one is throwing Superman out trying to score from second on a single. I repeat NO ONE, except Vlad on a hard hit ball right at him, but no way Walker, Edmonds, or Sanders throw him out.
2.) You get Berkman to fly out to right or right center and Beltran takes third, but so what, you walk Kent and Ensberg and pitch to Vizciano with bases loaded and 2 outs.
3.) A ground ball to the right side, and Beltran takes 3rd, and you walk Kent and Ensberg and pitch to Vizciano.
4.) A ground ball to the left side, and you hold Beltran at second, and you then walk Kent and pitch to Ensberg.
The only case where it is smart to walk Berkman is if Kent grounds into a DP. Now yes Kent does ground into a lot of DPs, probably 12-18 a year. A DP is not a guarantee though, Kent only hits into a DP maybe once every 8-12 games. That doesn't happen all that often. That is the ONLY case where walking Berkman and pitching to Kent is the best case scenario.
I am sorry, but you have an advantage of being 2-2 on Berkman, DON"T GIVE IT AWAY, until you have to. If you miss 2-2 and it goes 3-2, then throw in the zone Berkman struggles the most with. If he walks then you are in the same situation you would have been had you intentionally walked him.
