Horrible Managing (Phillies-Reds)

[Stumpage]

Don't know if anybody was following this game, but this was the situation...

*Reds/Phillies tied at 5, bottom of the 14th inning...
*Phillies have 1st and 2nd, nobody out...
*Jerry Narron (Reds skipper) decides to INTENTIONALLY walk Howard, therefore loading the bases with nobody out...

I thought I had to be missing something, that maybe the runners were at second and third before Howard strode to the dish, but no. Narron intentionally walks a batter, thus forcing everybody else up 90 feet. I fully realize Howard is on the cusp of 40 homeruns, has 100 ribbies and so forth, but I felt this was absolutely a brutal move.

Wild pitch, any flyball, etc., ends the game. I can honestly say I've never seen a scenario like that before and I have to believe that I wont again, not anytime soon anyway. I don't care if it was a Babe Ruth / Ty Cobb hybrid swingin' the stick. What a bizarre move. Anyway, rant over (Phillies won, needless to say).

[Bulldog]

Makes no sense to me either buddy, specially because one run would end the game...

[Stumpage]

Ok, to answer my own post, I now can understand (I think) Narron's thinking...The Pitcher was due up following Howard, and I have to believe that the Phillies were out of position players, seeing that the pitcher actually came to bat after the intentional walk...So I guess it does make sense in the end. Anyway, I'm having a joyous time here submitting and then answering my own post. I'll see what else I can think of for another entry.....

(Just followed your post Bulldog...Makes a tad more sense now)

[Bulldog]

Ok, to answer my own post, I now can understand (I think) Narron's thinking...The Pitcher was due up following Howard, and I have to believe that the Phillies were out of position players, seeing that the pitcher actually came to bat after the intentional walk...So I guess it does make sense in the end. Anyway, I'm having a joyous time here submitting and then answering my own post. I'll see what else I can think of for another entry.....

(Just followed your post Bulldog...Makes a tad more sense now)

Ok stumpage, now post a trivia and 5 minutes later post the answer.
Just kidding man, Im actually glad you posted that and youre probably right about position players because it would be the only way that that play made a little bit of sense.
But then again, he could have tried to get Howard out and face the pitcher with 1 out and try to get him to ground out to an inning ending dp or something.
anyway...

[rolemand]

With no outs most managers would just tell the pitcher to leave the bat on his shoulder try for the walk. Wouldn't they?

[bigboydan]

they would load up the bases to try and get the force out.