This should tell you all you need to know. Lineup protection is irrelevant. Its not as important as some make it out to be but it does exist.Exactly, it is irrelevant. It does exist, but it is not really significant enough to be relevant. And to the Bonds comment, he had Jeff Kent, a former MVP, hitting behind him. Bonds walked a lot because he had a very good eye, elite bat speed, and incredible power. Pitchers pitched around him while at the same time he only swung at mistakes.