Moylan has issued three bases loaded walks this year

Last night, with the bases full of Dodgers in the ninth, the Giants' Brian Wilson walked in the winning run -- or losing run, depending on your point of view. Earlier in the day the Braves' Peter Moylan walked Marlins' pinch hitter Ross Gload with the bases loaded, which allowed Florida to take the lead for good. If it seems to you like that has happened an awful lot this season, you're absolutely correct. David Pinto of the blog Baseball Musings is keeping track, and notes that as of Monday 23 bases loaded walks have occurred this year, making it 25 once we add Moylan and Wilson's free passes. With the caveat that it's still early, that is well-ahead of the pace for the single season record.

What to make of it? It's probably a statistical anomaly based on a small sample size, but it could be evidence of a grand conspiracy to annoy the heck out of me. Maybe it's the frustrated manager/pitching coach that lives deep inside me somewhere, but there are very few things that bother me more than bases loaded walks. Then again, maybe it's just the fact that the Braves -- my team -- have issued five of the 25 so far this year.

UPDATE: Reader Preston B notes that the actual number of bases loaded walks is 26 this year. I had missed the one Matt Cain issued earlier in the Dodgers-Giants game. Thanks Preston!