It depends on the location of the pitch, but do you wonder why left handed sticks do not attempt to make a defense pay more by leaving the left side almost uncovered? Many would be hits get ate up in the shift.
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Personally I think it is an ego thing with them. Just think if Bonds had decided to keep bunting he would have never gotten out.
quote:Originally posted by Nicholas25:
It depends on the location of the pitch, but do you wonder why left handed sticks do not attempt to make a defense pay more by leaving the left side almost uncovered? Many would be hits get ate up in the shift.
The "large" shift is put on players that have a tough time fundamentally with consistency beating it (there swing and the way they are pitched produces these results).
Every hitter is played and shifted a certain way by the defense (some more extreme than others). The defense has numerous reports and charted ball flights that the hitters produce consistently.
The question of why don't players bunt to beat the shift? The defense would consider that a victory against those hitters. Let them bunt and take away the potential for an extra base hit or even a home run. Those players are payed to hit not to bunt.
Defense is not about what you are giving up, it's about what you are taking away!
If you could predict where the hitter was going to hit the ball, wouldn't you put defenders there?
Nice post Jimmy.
Jimmy, yes, I agree, well put. To illustrate:
The shift was put on me during my senior year in college. I was hitting 4th in the lineup with plenty of home runs. Hitting from the left side of the plate the whole entire left side of the diamond was open, 3B was playing in deep SS hole near second base.
I decided to drop a bunt down with no body on base. All I had to do was get it by the stupid pitcher who fell off the mound to the first base side. I didn't and was thrown out by a step.
My coach screamed at me, not because I got out, but because I attempted the bunt in the first place. He told me it wasn't my job to hit singles, it was my job to hit the ball deep for extra bases.
That was the last time I tried to break the shift with a bunt...
Nate
The shift was put on me during my senior year in college. I was hitting 4th in the lineup with plenty of home runs. Hitting from the left side of the plate the whole entire left side of the diamond was open, 3B was playing in deep SS hole near second base.
I decided to drop a bunt down with no body on base. All I had to do was get it by the stupid pitcher who fell off the mound to the first base side. I didn't and was thrown out by a step.
My coach screamed at me, not because I got out, but because I attempted the bunt in the first place. He told me it wasn't my job to hit singles, it was my job to hit the ball deep for extra bases.
That was the last time I tried to break the shift with a bunt...
Nate
