tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post1294268191888998573..comments2024-02-15T03:08:19.233-05:00Comments on Bob Walk the Plank: Bunting 101 (rant time)BobWalkthePlankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-73405910648300334552015-06-03T11:20:48.155-04:002015-06-03T11:20:48.155-04:00Poor Danny Santana.....
Clint Hurdle use to be an...Poor Danny Santana.....<br /><br />Clint Hurdle use to be an "old school" manager, but after the 2012 season they went full throttle new wave thinking. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-53085714404431500632015-06-03T11:08:10.915-04:002015-06-03T11:08:10.915-04:00nope. Gardenhire used to have the Twins bunting ev...nope. Gardenhire used to have the Twins bunting every now and then early in the game, but Molitor is more interested in guys hitting their way on and then stealing / hit and run / taking an extra base to move up. They called for a delayed steal last night that put a guy in scoring position with two outs, but unfortunately Danny Santana was hitting. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580716283983922689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-32845838999840618382015-06-03T11:04:11.630-04:002015-06-03T11:04:11.630-04:00Do the Twins bunt much? Do the Twins bunt much? BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-49473671081725499602015-06-03T10:58:00.898-04:002015-06-03T10:58:00.898-04:00yeah- there are infinite situations in terms of sc...yeah- there are infinite situations in terms of score, # of outs, where you are in the lineup, who's pitching, home vs road, what inning it is... I would trade an out for bases only in certain situations. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580716283983922689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-44105857114093735902015-06-03T10:51:48.403-04:002015-06-03T10:51:48.403-04:00I guess my issue is that you are assuming the bunt...I guess my issue is that you are assuming the bunt will work in the first place. If slumping guy is asked to bunt couldn't he bunt into a double play, force out at third, strike out. Swinging away may cause a double play too, but he could get a hit, draw a walk etc.<br /><br />Like you said a lot is lineup dependent. In the Pirates case they almost never bunt in this situation unless it is the pitcher. <br /><br />I just feel that their is not much reward to bunting in these situations. That is what makes these kind of debates so much fun. Their really is no right answer.BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-54684434410443777902015-06-03T10:33:57.452-04:002015-06-03T10:33:57.452-04:00Would it always be sounds strategy to walk the nex...Would it always be sounds strategy to walk the next guy? Depends on the lineup card. Bases loaded with one out is also better than runner on third and two outs...Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580716283983922689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-75569290474345467192015-06-03T10:26:53.058-04:002015-06-03T10:26:53.058-04:00Even if the struggling hitter gets the bunt down, ...Even if the struggling hitter gets the bunt down, would't the team just walk the next guy and the double play will still be in order. I just feel like that would only be desirable in 9th inning. In the middle of game fell like that giving up an out is a bad play. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-35851231782852108572015-06-03T10:09:21.996-04:002015-06-03T10:09:21.996-04:00There are certainly times when you've got a we...There are certainly times when you've got a weak hitter at the plate (or even a guy in the middle of a long slump) where bunting a guy over is much more desirable than having the batter ground into a double play. Getting guys over to 2nd and 3rd with one out is better than a runner at 3rd and two outs... Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580716283983922689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-46850739897744423902015-06-03T09:30:39.949-04:002015-06-03T09:30:39.949-04:00I think that pretty well sums it up because option...I think that pretty well sums it up because option 1 is your speed demons and option 2 sounds like the pitcher. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-18259521824757850262015-06-03T08:42:22.799-04:002015-06-03T08:42:22.799-04:00Outs are precious.
If bunting is the best chance ...Outs are precious. <br />If bunting is the best chance for a player to reach base safely, then yeah, let's bunt!<br />If moving the runner up a base is easier via the bunt than swinging away, yeah, let's bunt!Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580716283983922689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-36000971189045407572015-06-03T08:03:59.858-04:002015-06-03T08:03:59.858-04:00The shift thing would probably have to be a team o...The shift thing would probably have to be a team oriented decision rather than the player just periodically trying to do it. If the opposing team knows that you have a bunch of guys that will bunt to beat the shift you would have to think the defense would have to realign accordingly. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-91990157816277365192015-06-03T08:01:33.101-04:002015-06-03T08:01:33.101-04:00Sac Bunts will probably almost go extinct once the...Sac Bunts will probably almost go extinct once the NL gets the DH. I think the only time you will see managers still do it will be in the highest leverage situations. In the Pirates case they are rarely doing it anymore. The only time I seem them do it is when the bottom of the order is up. I think they realized that they would rather see guys like Cutch and Marte swing away rather than bunt or get intentionally walked as the result of the bunt.BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-91164899607081793332015-06-03T07:54:12.102-04:002015-06-03T07:54:12.102-04:00DISAGREEMENTS!
I'm the exact opposite. I thi...DISAGREEMENTS! <br /><br />I'm the exact opposite. I think the times to do it are few and far between. If I'm a manager I don't want to waste my position players at bats by sac bunting. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-61714699919153660392015-06-03T07:49:08.984-04:002015-06-03T07:49:08.984-04:00Bartolo Colon is a national treasure.
That is th...Bartolo Colon is a national treasure. <br /><br />That is the thing with trying to beat the shift. I agree that it would be extremely difficult. That is why I wasn't sure if it should be on the list, but more and more guys are able to get it done. BobWalkthePlankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011292576523365641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-4307599096453259662015-06-02T21:32:01.231-04:002015-06-02T21:32:01.231-04:00I couldn't agree more with you Matt. I know Wh...I couldn't agree more with you Matt. I know Whitey Ball is never coming back-but Matt Adams will not or can't bunt when given a shift that puts the third baseman at the shortstop position! Thus leaving the entire third base side vacant.Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723730037880660613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-27620935920306270422015-06-02T20:32:08.981-04:002015-06-02T20:32:08.981-04:00I'm in favor of bunting for hits -- things lik...I'm in favor of bunting for hits -- things like power hitters beating a shift with a well-placed bunt are high comedy and smart baseball. <br /><br />Sacrifice bunting, though, is reserved for only one situation I can think of: runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs, bottom of the 9th (or bottom of any later inning) and 7th game of the World Series. And then you bunt only if the runner misreads the signs and thinks he is supposed to do a straight steal of home and you're bunting suicide-squeeze style.<br /><br />Otherwise? Pitchers only, thanks.Tony L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01349226671097456632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-20643760863448606222015-06-02T20:13:12.190-04:002015-06-02T20:13:12.190-04:00To me, there is really just one time you shouldn&#...To me, there is really just one time you shouldn't bunt, and even then there is a little leeway. Never bunt in the last 3 innings if the pitcher has a no hitter and no one is on base. That's cheezy. However, there is a time you can bunt in that situation.<br /><br />1-0 score. <br /><br />If the pitcher only has a one run lead and is working a no hitter, if you need to drag bunt to get on, then do it. The unwritten rule goes out the door when you are down only a run. <br /><br />But normally, anything is the right time to bunt. Third baseman playing too far back? Bunt. Speedy man on first with one out? Bunt. Slow pitcher and first baseman? Push it down the line and leg it out.JediJeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10261262040532716901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504646615318477533.post-19285380281844569072015-06-02T20:13:05.300-04:002015-06-02T20:13:05.300-04:00"Watching them (pitchers) bunt is usually muc..."Watching them (pitchers) bunt is usually much better than watching them hit."<br /><br />Despite being pro-DH/pro-both DH & PH, I have one exception, Bartolo Colon. Then again watching him do anything gives our lives meaning.<br /><br />I remember seeing Cano turn a bunt that went into the left side of the infield (where the third baseman was standing at the SS position) and got him to second base. It was awesome.<br />Although I've seen Ichiro (the best hitter of all time) try to bunt and fail numerous times so I doubt that bunting to beat the shift or to try to get on base is as easy as it sounds.Zippy Zappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695389359056056119noreply@blogger.com