Depending on the situation, the suspense of a walk can be electric. With runners on base, a pitcher is out of options. They must attack the hitter at the plate, no matter who it is. If you nibble, then you only dig yourself a further hole. Aaron Hicks is one of the best at forcing pitchers to throw. I know his peak hitting days are gone, but his appeal to the team stems from his above average plate discipline that puts all the pressure on the pitcher.
In late July against the Kansas City Royals, Hicks was amidst his best month of the season, when he had a 157 wRC+ due to an 18.