Tradition is a bit of a stretch. That said, even if you ban the intentional walk, a team can still unintentionally, intentionally walk someone (is that even functional English there?). Anyway, personally, I find the intentional walk abominable, not for the reasons of the analysts. For me, it takes away a part of the game for the fans. This might be the only time that people in some parts of the country can see a guy like Pujols play. To walk the guy every time he gets up takes away from those fans. I also find it an act of cowardice. The stench of that cowardice will never go away for me in those years when Barry Bonds was being walked in every plate appearance. The fact that baseball allowed something like that turns my stomach. Those stains on the baseball records are for me much worse than his chemically induced output with his bat. Anyway, it's late and I'm rambling. I just hate the intentional walk. I hate about as much as I hate anything in baseball.

Still laughing. Fantastic post. Thanks so much for the laugh this afternoon. Agree completely with jhardman.

I'm really a fan of your writing. This is a long post, but it held my interest and told me a lot about these new managers. Thanks for putting it all together so well so we have a baseline and a steady interest in how these guys will handle their jobs this year. I think they will all be successful.

Excellent post that nails shy defensive metrics are so scorned these days. We really need a metric we can believe in. Perhaps you can enlighten me on something. Unless I am mistaken, the field is broken up into zones and a defender responsible for that zone is given credits or debits depending on what he does with a ball hit in that zone. My question is this: If, say, a first baseman ranges far to the right to snag a grounder and it's in the second base "zone" does that count against the second baseman? Or say there is a shift on Ortiz and the shortstop gets a grounder while standing where the second baseman usually stands, does that hurt the second baseman twoo? I've always wondered about this. A secondary question results from the first, do the zones change per batter or remain static throughout all play?

If things remain the same, Hamilton will win the award. Cano should get consideration, but you are correct that he gets lost in the Yankee shuffle. Beltre has been amazing and it's cool that I predicted that in the preseason. Personally, I like what Crawford has done for the Rays. He makes them so much better and he will be really missed if he walks at the end of the season. Nice wrap up of the candidates.

Ms. Karhl, you have become one of my favorite reads on the internet. Really enjoy your posts.

Excellent piece. I wish you luck as an agent. You taking any writer clients? heh. As a fan, I'd love to have more insight on these types of relationships beyond just a Tom Cruise movie. More please.

Excellent article. One thing that would be interesting to study is if any variable exists for players who go through the entire arbitration/one-year contract cycle versus those who get tied up for a few years during their arbitration eligible years. Some teams approach those years differently and it would be interesting to see if it creates a difference.