Corey Seager gets Barry Bonds treatment from Angels
Apr 14, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) follows through on his RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Angels pulled off one of the rarer moves in baseball Friday, opting to issue an intentional walk with the bases loaded.
The Texas Rangers had the bases loaded and one out in Friday’s game against the Angels, with Corey Seager stepping to the plate. The Angels were already trailing by one, and clearly feared a knockout blow from Seager. Manager Joe Maddon surprisingly chose to intentionally walk Seager in a damage limitation move.
Corey Seager intentionally walked with the bases loaded.
Barry Bonds would be proud.@Starting9 pic.twitter.com/cgB0fwWVrY
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 16, 2022
The strategy didn’t necessarily pay huge dividends. Mitch Garver hit a sacrifice fly one batter later, but there was no further damage beyond that.
This sort of thing is rare, but not unprecedented. Barry Bonds most famously got the treatment, but it has at least been considered in many other situations. Maddon himself has done it before as well.
