... My recommendation to any manager would simply be to never worry about walking anyone intentionally, at least in the early and middle innings. Pitch to everyone. One, except perhaps in rare, ideal situations, you are probably reducing your team’s chances of winning. Two, it is not worth the time and effort, and perhaps a little stomach acid and a few extra gray hairs worrying about it.

On the other hand, a manager knows that he will get crucified by fans and in the press, and perhaps even in his own organization, if he doesn’t walk an opposing team’s elite batter, the game is on the line, and he ends up getting beaten (you know the old, and silly, axiom, "Never let the other team’s star hitter beat you").

Usually, if he issues the expected walk, he is on safe territory (from criticism), whether his team ends up winning or losing. So maybe it’s not worth the grief that might ensue. His call, I guess. Now, if managers want to make protection of their derrieres part of their decision-making process, it’s fine by me. I only wish that they would do it using the right information in the first place, so as to make an informed choice.