Showing Bunt??

It's legal. How is the umpire to know he is not misjudging the ball or intends to bunt but changes his mind at the last second?

We know it is going on but there is no rule to prevent it. It isn't interference until F2 gets it. Until then, the batter is allowed his uninterrupted chance to hit it.

Pros do it all the time only they don't wiggle the bat. When a batter misses the ball on a steal, in some cases, it is intentional just to protect the runner. Nothing to call. Let it play out.

Some Catchers in HS and at collegiate programs
will not adjust

his only intent is to distract the catcher. He's not just squaring to bunt, he's also moving his bat up and down right until the ball arrives then pulling it back at the last second.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Umpire:
It's legal. How is the umpire to know he is not misjudging the ball or intends to bunt but changes his mind at the last second?

We know it is going on but there is no rule to prevent it. It isn't interference until F2 gets it. Until then, the batter is allowed his uninterrupted chance to hit it.

Pros do it all the time only they don't wiggle the bat. When a batter misses the ball on a steal, in some cases, it is intentional just to protect the runner. Nothing to call. Let it play out.

quote:

Originally posted by cccsdad:
his only intent is to distract the catcher. He's not just squaring to bunt, he's also moving his bat up and down right until the ball arrives then pulling it back at the last second.

I know the move. I've seen it so many times. However, what rule prevents it? There isn't one and no umpire should think there is one.

As long as he doesn't interfere with the catcher's throw or play at the plate, nothing to call. Let it play out.

May not like it. It is a bush league tactic being taught. But, it is legal and nothing an umpire should do about it.

That is for the players to decide how they will handle this tactic. A good pitcher will take the batter out of the equation and give his catcher a chance. I'm not suggesting how to do that.

agreed, there isnt a rule against it.....

I hate it, as we all know why its being done.....usually this type of stuff is gone by HS

quote:

Originally posted by piaa_ump:
agreed, there isnt a rule against it.....

I hate it, as we all know why its being done.....usually this type of stuff is gone by HS

It's bush league, but not illegal. It's not normally practiced by the better coached teams.

It's not against the rules, but it makes me pray to the Lord for the batter to give me a reason to grab him for BI.

Bring it on TR.

I know your talking about younger kids but as they get older, a good pitcher can take care of that problem with a few well placed fastballs.

dash

Bring what on?

What is being discussed here is bush league coaching

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
dash

Bring what on?

What is being discussed here is bush league coaching

Another viewpoint.

Slap bunting (which I consider
a weak offensive situational hitting tactic) has been
taught across all levels for years. Don't see
it much if at all in the pros. Prevalent with the women and taught at the highest of caliber programs.

The tactic not only distrubs the eye path of the catcher, yet also freezes charging infielders, and early commitments from the MInf.

Fake Bunt

It has been used by some of the greatest college coaches in history.

Wiggling the bat up and down is the not the correct way to fake bunt.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Fake Bunt

It has been used by some of the greatest college coaches in history.

Wiggling the bat up and down is the not the correct way to fake bunt.

No argument that the fake bunt can be effective and is used by some good coaches. The wiggling of the bat, however, in my experience, is not used by good coaches.

Wiggling of the bat should have no bearing on distracting the catcher, at the younger ages perhaps the pitcher.

3-0 I would give the fake bunt signal to my hitters, they were insructed to step to the farthest reaches and to the back of the box, squaring and holding the bat very still,giving F1 a great target, all in hopes he'd hit it, ball 4.

The proper move to distract F2 would be too miss the pitch (bunt attempt) just above the ball, this will make the ball disappear for an instant as it passes under the bat, but again should have no distracting value to a real F2. The hand eye will take over as F2's been tracking the ball and moving the glove to it's impact spot already, show me a catcher that doesn't ever blink and I'll kick, er, ah, kiss yer donkey.

Now an overzeoulos coach may convince F2 that this is a distraction, otherwise no way.