The term "intentional walk" in baseball means to purposely throw four balls outside the strike zone to a batter, allowing them to automatically take first base. The phonetic transcription is /ɪnˈtɛn·ʃə·nəl wɑk/. "Intentional" is pronounced as "in-ten-shuh-nuhl" with the stress on the second syllable. "Walk" is pronounced as "wɑk" and rhymes with "talk". This term has been used in baseball for a long time, and it is crucial for players to understand its meaning and proper pronunciation in order to communicate effectively.
Intentional walk is a term commonly used in the sport of baseball to describe a strategic pitching tactic employed by the defensive team. It refers to the deliberate decision made by the pitching team to intentionally walk a batter by throwing four pitches outside of the strike zone. The purpose of an intentional walk is to avoid allowing the batter an opportunity to hit the ball effectively, leading to potential scoring opportunities for the offensive team.
In an intentional walk, the pitching team concedes a base on balls, allowing the batter to easily advance to first base without the risk of offering a pitch within the batter's hitting zone. The decision to perform an intentional walk is typically made when the presence of the particular batter is deemed to pose a significant threat, such as having a high batting average or a reputation for hitting powerful home runs.
Intentional walks are often employed in situations where the defensive team believes that the potential risks associated with allowing the batter to swing outweigh the repercussions of granting the batter a free pass to first base. This tactic allows the pitching team to strategically control the game and minimize the chances of a detrimental outcome. Nevertheless, intentional walks can also carry some risks, as it alters the course of the game and allows runners on base to advance.
The etymology of the term "intentional walk" can be broken down as follows:
1. "Intentional": The word "intentional" originates from the Latin term "intentionalis", derived from the verb "intendere", meaning "to intend" or "to aim". The notion of intention implies purposeful or deliberate action.
2. "Walk": In the context of baseball, the term "walk" refers to a free base awarded to a batter when the pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone, without the batter swinging at any of them. The word derives from the Old English noun "wealc", meaning "rolling", indicating that the batter is allowed to "roll" to first base without having to hit the ball.