"Forget the fact that Swish doesn't bunt with great alacrity for a second. Frank Francisco threw 23 pitches last night. 10 of them were balls.
Think about that for a second. Nick Swisher collects walks like they're going out of style. Frank Frank is rattled, because he's just turned a 10-5 lead into a 10-9 lead with two men on and none out. The first two pitches he threw that Swish squared to bunt on were both out of the zone.
What were the odds that Swish works a bases-loading walk there, like 85%?
Exceedingly likely alternate universe game scenario #1:
1) Swish walks the bases loaded.
2) An ice-cold Melky still lines into a DP at second, but the tying run scores.
3) A red hot Derek Jeter rips a game-winning single.
Exceedingly likely alternate universe game scenario #2:
1) Swish walks the bases loaded.
2) An ice-cold Melky swings for the fences and hits a flyout, scoring the tying run on an unintentional sac fly.
3) A red hot Derek Jeter rips a game-winning single.
Exceedingly likely alternate universe game scenario #3:
1) Swish walks the bases loaded.
2) Joe Girardi has Melky suicide squeeze, but he can't execute the bunt just like Swisher and pops out. They double off the runner at home.
3) A red hot Derek Jeter still rips a game-tying single.
4) A red hot Johnny Damon deposits one in the RF seats for the win.
Exceedingly likely alternate universe game scenario #4:
1) Swish walks the bases loaded.
2) Melky pops up on the first pitch. All runners remain at their bases.
3) Jeter and Damon have two chances to knock in the tying and winning runs.
Exceedingly likely alternate universe game scenario #5:
1) Swish walks the bases loaded.
2) Girardi lifts Melky for Eric Hinske. Hinske rips a game winning single down the line.
I got pages of these, I could go on."
Edited to add a link to SG's unsurprisingly excellent post on this popular topic.
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