It Is Not...

I've have been hearing it for years, and even Cardinal TV broadcaster Al Hrabosky said it tonight: "A walk is as good as a hit." It isn't. The situation (4/3 against the Cards vs. Rockies) was a man at third, one out and Cesar Izturis drew a walk. Dan McLaughlin pointed out what a good at bat it was (10 pitch walk). And then Al followed up with the stand by line. In this case, if Izturis had gotten a hit, Rico Washington would have scored from third. So a hit is not always as good as a walk. If it were, do you think you would see opposing managers opting to walk Albert Pujols when he comes up and there's less than two outs with men on second and third? If a walk was as good as a hit, then the intentional pass to Pujols with two men on would result in at least one run, most likely two runs scored. So, gang, the lesson here is, a walk isn't always as good as a hit (unless there's nobody on).