Pitch to Pujols

I hate the intentional walk.

To me it is like a white flag; an I give up; I'm too afraid to compete.

Recently, I have had discussions about pitching to Albert Pujols.  I am sure this weekend a situation will arise in which the best hitter in the National League and probably the Major Leagues, will come to the plate with a chance to hurt the Reds.

Pitch to him.  As good as he is, a lifetime .333 hitter up to the minute.  There is a 66 percent chance you will get him out.

Last month Pujols when the Reds were in St. Louis, the slugger came to the plate twice with a chance to hurt the Reds.

Baker ordered him walked in the fifth inning on Friday night with two outs and runners on second and third in the fifth inning.  Matt Holliday ruined that strategy by hitting a two-run single off Johnny Cueto.

On Saturday Baker pitched to Pujols in the seventh inning with two outs and a runner on second in a tie game.  Pujols doubled to put the Cardinals in the lead against Homer Bailey.

Later that night a friend of mine asked me, "When is Dusty Baker going to realize that you can't let Pujols beat you?"

Pujols hit did not beat the Reds on that occasion.  In fact they tied the game in their next at bat.

Last year Baker removed Bailey with the bases loaded, two outs and Pujols coming to the plate with Bailey holding a 3-0 lead in the seventh.

A pair of hall of famers,  Marty Brennaman and Hal McCoy both said publicly that they would walk Pujols in that situation.  While I respect both of them, neither made the Hall as a manager.  Neither was a three-time manager of the year.

I disagreed with both.  I would have pitched to him too in spite of the results.  Pujols hit a grand slam off reliever. David Weathers.

You can not play scared.  How can you teach a young team that you should be afraid of the opposition and expect them to develop into winners?

As good as Pujols is, you need to compete.  You need to face him,  if you want to give yourself any chance at all to be a winner.