by apolivka » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:46 pm
Dumb move, but I think I know why HAL did it. As our Little League coaches always used to say, it gives you a "force on any base", but that means nothing in strato with 2 out.
HAL loves to take into account the clutch factor for intentional walks. Dillon is a big choker (-6 clutch points), and Wilson is less (-2). For whatever reason, he seems to take that into account in clutch situations much more than just about any other factor.
I also like how Pedroia got gunned down trying to steal home in the same inning! Probably a botched squeeze, of course.