Smartest Move Probably Isn’t the Bravest One

In a World Series of mostly fabricated matchups -- geographically challenged San Francisco Giant fans chanting “Beat L.A.”? -- there is one that is deliciously real.

Angel bravado versus Barry Bonds.

The team that issued the fewest intentional walks in baseball versus the player who was intentionally walked more than anybody in history.

A group of raging bulls versus a champion counter-puncher just waiting to knock them out.

It could be magnificent. It could be messy. Four days before Game 1 at Edison Field on Saturday, it is alive and piquing.

Wondered Tim Salmon: “Does he ever make an out?”

Growled Troy Percival: “I’m going after him like everybody else.”

Explained Scott Schoeneweis: “He is like Babe Ruth.”

Warned Jarrod Washburn: “I hate pitching around anybody.”

There are as many story lines in this series as flasks in Giant fans’ pockets. But there will be only one continuing drama, with characters as clearly defined as a Giant fan’s whine.

There is Angel Manager Mike Scioscia. He didn’t make a living waving his glove at guys as they crossed home plate, he pummeled them.

There are his Angel pitchers. They don’t make a living twirling in the corners, they wing it.

Then there is Bonds, who loves hitting against that aggressive combination of manager and pitcher as much as he loves brushing off a cocksure autograph seeker.

The Angels can’t wait to show him they are not afraid.

Bonds can’t wait to show them they should be very afraid.

So what gives?

If the Angels are smart -- and Scioscia is old-time Dodger smart -- they will give.

Bonds wants to swing.

Despite the chest-thumping from their fans and jeers from their enemies, the Angels should not let him.

Bobby Cox let him hit, and his home run helped the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves in the clinching game of their National League divisional series.

Tony La Russa let him hit, and his two-run triple helped the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the critical opener of the league championship series.

Until the final weeks of the regular season, Jim Tracy let him hit, and his six home runs essentially eliminated the Dodgers.

I wrote a similar column last month from Chavez Ravine as Tom Lasorda stood over my shoulder and waved four fingers every time the unhappy but unstoppable slug strolled to home plate.

I was accused by everyone else of being a chicken.

So, what the heck, so I’ll cluck on down to Orange County and try again.

Hey, Angels? The most effective scouting report on Bonds goes something like this:

If one of his swings can tie the score, or give his team the lead, or increase his team’s lead, you walk him.

Walk him. Walk him. Walk him.

During the last two seasons, in 879 at-bats, he has recorded 733 total bases, which is close enough to one base per at-bat to make it statistically favorable to walk him.

Emotionally, it can be even more critical. Just ask Byron Scott.

In the first two games of last spring’s NBA finals, he was determined that his New Jersey Nets would not double-team Shaquille O’Neal.

His fans loved it. His team hated it. Scott’s bravado not only lost two games, but it demoralized a locker room and doomed a series.

Scioscia, in fact, mentioned the Nets on Tuesday, as well as the foolishness of teams that once decided to use single coverage on late Dallas Cowboy star Bob Hayes.

“There are a lot of positive things that come out of bravado,” Scioscia said. “But sometimes, you have to step back and swallow your pride.”

Idealistically, the Angels will realize that the next week is one of those times.

Realistically, the Angels being a team that hears only its heart, that probably won’t happen.

During Tuesday’s workout, they talked about the dangers of facing hot-hitting Benito Santiago.

“It isn’t like there’s a 12-year-old batting behind Bonds,” Schoeneweis said.

No. In fact, in my earlier column, I referred to Santiago as being 80 years old, for which I must now apologize. He doesn’t look a day over 60.

And if the ruddy catcher repeats his NLCS performance and beats the Angels, then the Giants have earned it.

The Angels also talked about the danger of walking anybody, period.

“You start to walk people just to walk them, you’re going to have a problem,” Percival said.

Then there was Ben Weber’s usual unusual take.

“Hey, he can’t hit everything out of the park, can he?” Weber asked. “Somebody’s got to get lucky and get him out, right? The way I look at it, maybe I’ll be that lucky one. So I want to pitch to him.”

All the Angels want to pitch to him. At some point during the World Series, they might all get a chance.

It will be wonderful theater. And it could cost them a championship.

Everything that big-bellied bricklayer coach once screamed at your trembling figure in the batter’s box is wrong.

A walk is not as good as a hit.

Not when the hitter is Barry Bonds.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at bill.plaschke@latimes.com.