MESA, Ariz. -- No longer will pitchers lob four balls to home plate. Major League Baseball is eliminating the old-fashioned intentional walk, instead electing for a dugout signal as part of ongoing efforts to improve the pace of play.
A's manager Bob Melvin, at least when considering alternative options being mulled to speed up games, is on board with the decision.
"I think, based on hearing what the potential was, and that's what we settled on, I'm just glad it wasn't a lot of what they were talking about," Melvin said. "I guess it's fine. Guys do have issues with it, and sometimes there's a certain guy you have to put on base, you're a little worried about it.