No one is bringing up the point that bunting is just plain ole boring and a snooze fest and the game is supposed to be fun and entertaining.
Originally Posted by chefmike7777:
I love the bunt, a perfectly timed sac bunt or suicide is excellent. but I think it has to be in confines of when you need 1 or 2 runs to decide a game, which for the most part is late in games. I am not even opposed to suicide bunting a 3 or 4 hitter if that run means that much to outcome of game
Agree with Chef Mike... Maybe this would lighten the mood a little and change OldSkool2's point of view at least temporarily..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK-7gsZT6zk&list=PL94615924152C9DCF
I believe that the ability to bunt is still a skill worth learning for a player to add to his/her offensive arsenal and if done in the right situations could enhance a team's offense.
Have a safe 4th to everyone!
JH - the variable in the statistics you provided is that they appear to be for MLB. At different levels of competition (college and high school specifically) the talent level is not as consistent and would result in different results. Good coaching should produce better execution - both when bunting and defending the bunt - providing a different viewpoint. FWIW I agree that trading an out to advance a runner one base is not a generally sound strategy.
I know a team that knocked off a "number one seed" with 5 consecutive bunts.
Obviously the team couldn't field the bunt. Coach figured it out and "ran it until they could stop it."
Ordinarily, I bunt is an out.
Originally Posted by HawksCoach:
JH - the variable in the statistics you provided is that they appear to be for MLB. At different levels of competition (college and high school specifically) the talent level is not as consistent and would result in different results. Good coaching should produce better execution - both when bunting and defending the bunt - providing a different viewpoint. FWIW I agree that trading an out to advance a runner one base is not a generally sound strategy.
cabbagedad's post is an example of a situation where a run scoring environment may possibly be that different. However - and this is just a hypothesis - I'd imagine that it is a very rare case.
Another point to keep in mind is that the statistics that state bunting is often detrimental only take into account outcome-based evidence that would be the result of a successfully executed bunt. We all know (thanks, Stu) that not all bunts are laid down and executed properly. So, not only does bunting usually hurt a team's chances to optimize scoring, but it often takes away opportunities for a hitter to hit (in general), and hit while in a favorable count.
I recognize that there could be extreme examples of differing run scoring environments that sway the factors involved to be a bit in favor of bunting more consistently. But I believe those to be very rare and, when combined with the paragraph above, fairly obsolete within the context of the game. I appreciate the discussion though, HawksCoach, and think your mindset is a good one.
Right on cue, I worked a summer collegiate wood-bat game tonight. Both teams were fond of the sacrifice bunt. 13 of them were successful (in the sense of accomplishing their intent.) The game ended up 1-0 on a leadoff home run in the 4th.
Originally Posted by Matt13:
Right on cue, I worked a summer collegiate wood-bat game tonight. Both teams were fond of the sacrifice bunt. 13 of them were successful (in the sense of accomplishing their intent.) The game ended up 1-0 on a leadoff home run in the 4th.
At least the game (probably) went by quickly. My dad umpires high school games in New York and used to jokingly use the line "we get paid by the game, not by the hour" nearly every time a game lasted longer than his liking.
So, there is a positive to bunting!
Originally Posted by J H:
Originally Posted by Matt13:
Right on cue, I worked a summer collegiate wood-bat game tonight. Both teams were fond of the sacrifice bunt. 13 of them were successful (in the sense of accomplishing their intent.) The game ended up 1-0 on a leadoff home run in the 4th.
At least the game (probably) went by quickly. My dad umpires high school games in New York and used to jokingly use the line "we get paid by the game, not by the hour" nearly every time a game lasted longer than his liking.
So, there is a positive to bunting!
Yep, it was a fast(ish) one.