Stephen A's Take: Baseball should ban the intentional WALK!

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: Detailed Summary of "Baseball Should Ban the Intentional WALK!"

Release Date: December 6, 2024

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves deep into a contentious proposal within Major League Baseball (MLB): the banning of intentional walks. With his signature blend of insight and passion, Smith navigates through the intricacies of this potential rule change, its implications for the sport, and the broader cultural context of baseball.

---

Introduction to the MLB Rule Change Proposal

Timestamp: [01:32]

Stephen A. Smith opens the discussion by addressing a recent initiative by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Manfred has introduced the concept of the "golden at bat," a rule allowing managers to deploy their best batter regardless of their position in the batting order. This innovative idea has ignited a firestorm among baseball enthusiasts, polarizing opinions across the fanbase.

"It's called the golden at bat. Once again, a manager gets to put his best batter at the plate regardless of where the batting order stands."
– Stephen A. Smith [01:45]

Smith expresses optimism about Manfred's forward-thinking approach, highlighting the need for innovation to rejuvenate the sport.

---

Historical Context: Baseball's Reluctance to Change

Timestamp: [02:30]

Delving into baseball's past, Smith critiques the sport's historical hesitance to adopt changes, often being the last major sport to address significant issues. He references the steroid era, domestic violence scandals, and the staunch resistance from the Players Association to implement reforms.

"Baseball has a history of usually being the last to act... Baseball has a history of usually being the last to act. It could be steroids, it could be amphetamines... and their level of intestinal resolve seemed to be at an elevated pace compared to basketball, football, and even hockey players."
– Stephen A. Smith [03:15]

Smith underscores the arrogance that often accompanied baseball's resistance, suggesting that the sport's slow response to crises has hindered its growth and popularity.

---

Rob Manfred's Progressive Stance

Timestamp: [04:50]

Appreciating Commissioner Manfred's initiative, Smith lauds his commitment to preventing the sport from stagnating. He acknowledges the positive impacts of recent rule changes, such as adjustments to the pitcher's mound that have led to more dynamic gameplay, including increased home runs and stolen bases.

"I applaud Rob Manfred for saying, listen, I'm not going to let this game sink. We're growing again... Athleticism being reinvited to the sport of baseball. Beautiful thing."
– Stephen A. Smith [05:10]

Smith views these changes as revitalizing the game, making it more exciting and engaging for modern audiences.

---

The Case Against Intentional Walks

Timestamp: [06:05]

Transitioning to the core of his argument, Smith vehemently opposes the tactic of intentional walks. He argues that it undermines the competitive spirit of the game by allowing pitchers to bypass confronting formidable hitters.

"Get rid of the intentional walk, ladies and gentlemen. Somebody need to say it, so I'm going to say it. It's one of the weakest moves in sports."
– Stephen A. Smith [06:20]

Using vivid analogies, he illustrates how the strategy diminishes the essence of competition, likening it to excusing top-tier athletes in other sports from facing their equally talented counterparts.

"Baseball is the lone sport that enables you to completely, conspicuously, and unapologetically just circumvent competition."
– Stephen A. Smith [07:00]

---

Impact on the Sport and Fan Engagement

Timestamp: [07:30]

Smith posits that eliminating intentional walks would enhance the game's integrity and competitiveness. He believes that forcing pitchers to engage directly with star hitters would elevate the quality of play and heighten fan interest.

"This suggestion, conversations only by Rob Manfred... invites more competitive fervor. That is good for the sport."
– Stephen A. Smith [07:50]

He further contends that such changes would align baseball with the competitive nature admired in other major sports, potentially boosting its popularity and viewership.

---

Conclusion: Embracing Change for Baseball's Future

Timestamp: [08:10]

In his closing remarks, Smith reiterates his support for Commissioner Manfred's innovative proposals. He believes that embracing such changes is crucial for baseball's evolution and sustained relevance in the modern sports landscape.

"Trust me on this one."
– Stephen A. Smith [08:15]

Smith's fervent advocacy for banning intentional walks encapsulates his broader vision for a more dynamic, competitive, and fan-friendly baseball, signaling a hopeful trajectory for the sport's future.

---

Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Stephen A. Smith eloquently articulates the necessity of adapting baseball to contemporary standards while preserving its rich heritage. By challenging longstanding practices like intentional walks, Smith champions a more engaging and equitable sport that resonates with today's audience, ensuring baseball remains a beloved and competitive pastime.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, and every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn [e-mail] credit card Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report, this podcast is sponsored by Talkspace.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself? Talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You, you'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code space80@talk.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me address some news concerning Major League Baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred has floated an idea for an MLB rule change that caught fire this week, polarizing baseball fans all over the place. It's called the golden at bat. Once again, a manager gets to put his best batter at the plate regardless of where the batting order stands. So essentially a pitcher facing the Dodgers could get Shohei Ohtani out in Ohio level leverage situation. Then Dave Roberts plays his golden at bat card and you have to face Atani all over again. It's important to note that Manfred said this idea is in the conversation only stage. I don't know whether it's a great idea or not. I like it. I like the fact that you have a commissioner with baseball forward thinking. I love the fact that he's willing to be innovative and take chances. Because you see what we have to remember is to call baseball on the carpet for always being the last at the party. It could be steroids, it could be amphetamines it could be, you know, domestic violence. It could be a whole bunch of things. Baseball has a history of usually being the last to act. And I'm not talking about the league, I'm talking about the players, as in the Players Association. Because unlike football and unlike basketball, baseball was notorious for being the most powerful players association in sports. We get that. And so because of that, they, they, they would hold out, they could be locked out, they'd go on strike, they do a whole bunch of things. And their level of intestinal resolve seemed to be at an elevated pace compared to basketball, football, and even hockey players. I get all of that. But because of that, it came attached with arrogance. And so when steroids was being brought about and all of this stuff, you know, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, ultimate, you had to get the Game of Shadows with Barry Barnes and the excerpts in Sports Illustrated for the Game of Shadows and all of this other. For the book. That is, that was the name of the book. All of this stuff has been going on and it all came back to baseball. And its arrogance was always of the mindset, we can police ourselves. Who the hell are y'all to tell us anything? And it was only as the numbers dissipated in terms of attendance, in terms of ratings, in terms of revenue, et cetera, did they take heed. And even then they still were reluctant. And even now, they still are. So I applaud Rob Manfred for saying, listen, I'm not going to let this game sink. We're growing again. Some of the rule changes shifting in the pitchers mound, along with various other things, okay? Those things have assisted in more runs being scored, more home runs being hit, more stolen bases, all of that stuff. Athleticism being reinvited to the sport of baseball. Beautiful thing. But now he's trying to take it a step further. I'm not going to knock Rob Manfred for that. Why not try it? Think about it. We're watching the World Series and Juan Soto comes up to bat. This brother knocks it out the park. But then guess what? Aaron Judge is going to strike out and somebody else ain't going to do what they supposed to do, okay? And there's no way you're going to get back to Juan Soto, because guess what? Eight other dudes got a bat until he comes back up the plate. This alleviates that concern. And you can bring him right back up to the plate and say, let him go again. I love works. But guess what rule really, really needs to change in order to facilitate all of these things for happening for the better. You got to get rid of the intentional walk, ladies and gentlemen. Somebody need to say it, so I'm going to say it. It's one of the weakest moves in sports. So let me get this straight. I'm a pitcher getting paid millions of dollars. My job is to go up there and get you out. But I get to look at you. You know, my nephew Josh is up at the plate, and I get to look at him and say, I don't want to pitch to him. I don't want to have to get him out. I don't think I can do it. Let me walk him. What kind of shit is that? So you don't want to guard LeBron James. You want to guard Steph Curry. You don't want to guard any of these people? No, you got to deal with them. Baseball is the lone sport that enables you to completely, conspicuously, and unapologetically just circumvent competition. And then you wonder why you ain't as popular as football or basketball. We like competition. You a pitcher. I'm a hitter. Let's go. Could you imagine somebody walking up to Randy Johnson and telling him to intentionally walk someone? Somebody walking up to Roger Clemens and telling him to intentionally walk someone Back in the days of Josh Gibson and Tom Steven? Those guys intentionally walk. Intentionally walk. I'm gonna be scared to face a battle. And then you wonder why it pisses people off. People ain't got time for that. We like competition. This suggestion, conversations only by Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, invites more competitive fervor. That is good for the sport. It doesn't hurt baseball. It only hurts the feelings of the old fogies who want to hold on to the 50s and the 60s and probably earlier than that, rather than acclimating themselves to the times that we're living in. Trust me on this one. Trust me.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. You know, when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule, wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner, or just need a little extra one on one support. Talkspace is here for you. Plus Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail] what's up everyone?

[Greg Rosenthal]

It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.