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How is it 3 definite singles vs 3 possible xbh? I didn't know hunts were definitely now.
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Pitcher mad over this?
- Thread starter tomdalton22
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How is it 3 definite singles vs 3 possible xbh? I didn't know hunts were definitely now.
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No. This isn't Billy Martin asking Jackson to lay one down. They don't ask because they think they can't or deem it not worthy.
The scenario that was presented said that the hitter already had his 3 hits on 4 bunt attempts. Then you said that he wasted a chance to try for xbh. That's all I meant. It's a silly scenario anyway.
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I agree..learn to hit the other way or at least up the middle.
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It is silly, no one is getting 3 bunt singles against a shift.
The conclusion is, it's not being done - why?
You're merely speculating, and I thought the opinion of most was that managers are "dumb" and don't know baseball all that well. A lot of them put no stock into sabermetrics.
It's possible you're right, but I have read articles where baseball players specifically say they don't like bunting for the very reason I laid out. That it's a "soft" way to play the game, and that it's beneath them.
Things don't happen overnight. Guys do have to practice bunting, and many of them haven't done so yet. I predict you will see more and more bunting in the seasons to come.
Shifting is a relatively new trend. It will take some time for offenses to counter that trend. It's the same thing in other sports. The "wildcat" offense in football was hot for a while, until defenses learned how to stop it. It took a little while, but now nobody runs the wildcat anymore.
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Shifting has gone on for awhile now. Look at Austin Jackson, has speed..can't bunt for shit. It's not an easy thing to do..teams don't teach it enough at the minor league level. As Tom alluded to, why not teach them too hit the other way instead of bunting.
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As far as the shift, evidence back to 1920..and Ted Williams in the 40's. It's not new.
Oh I'd be all for that. Hitting the other way would solve the problem too. I think that's probably a lot more difficult to change a guy's swing around, than to teach him how to bunt though. I really think you're making bunting out to be this insanely difficult task that can't be learned. I'm not really worried about Austin Jackson as the defenses do not play a shift on him.
The shift itself is not new of course not. However I don't recall ever seeing it at this high volume. Everybody is doing it and consistently all the time against the same batters. I've only been watching baseball since about 96, but I don't ever recall it being like this. Guys have to learn how to counter it one way or another.
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I'm curious to see the success of bunts attempted..Even ones where they tried then swing away. The art of bunting has been a lost art for ages. Are there players who do it well, sure. But most fail at it.
The point about Jackson is if he can't get one down or beat one out..shift or no how can Avila do it. Had he even bunted before..for him I bet it'd be hard to teach and learn.
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*shrugs* I dunno. I feel like a major league baseball player can learn how to bunt with at least some level of competency if he actually worked on it in spring training or the off season. I don't believe Jackson has ever done that. And Jackson does not bunt against the shift so it's a different story. He bunts to places where there are defenders present so it's easier to get him out. Avila would not be if they have shifted on him. That is the only thing I'm advocating here. Laying down SOME bunts against the SHIFT only. That's all
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I think he'll just start the count 0-1.
But let's say he tries and first pitch he pops to the catcher..do we get a "well he tried good job Alex".
But let's say he tries and first pitch he pops to the catcher..do we get a "well he tried good job Alex".
No more than if he grounded out into the shift. Same result.
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Plus take into account he works the count rather well..a bunted ball out hurts even more.
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But after the pop up bunt at that point we don't know he's going to ground out. We'd be like "what the fk were you thinking".
Ok that's fine. I think it's reaching a little bit though. If he bunts only once in every 30 at bats (I just made up a number) then I think the lost pitch count is pretty insignificant. He's still getting 29 regular at bats to do his usual thing.
That's all I'm talking about. Just a few bunts here and there.
After he grounds out into the shift, I am often thinking "why didn't you just bunt down the third base line and take your single??"
Same thing. It's all hindsight.
spockmaster
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After only glancing at the thread because im impatient, this is my input:
1) Fuck Colby Lewis, he's a whiny moron.
2) I DESIPSE any and all sacrifice bunts unless its a pitcher doing it (GIVE THE NL THE DH GODDAMNIT), but I'm fine with bunting for hits, especially against the shift. If theyre giving you a free single, fuckin take it. Cant get runs without getting on base, and a free bunt single is better than taking a chance and swinging away. Unless you're completely incapable of bunting or something (some guys suck at it.) But if i was getting the shift put on me all the time, id be practicing it.
1) Fuck Colby Lewis, he's a whiny moron.
2) I DESIPSE any and all sacrifice bunts unless its a pitcher doing it (GIVE THE NL THE DH GODDAMNIT), but I'm fine with bunting for hits, especially against the shift. If theyre giving you a free single, fuckin take it. Cant get runs without getting on base, and a free bunt single is better than taking a chance and swinging away. Unless you're completely incapable of bunting or something (some guys suck at it.) But if i was getting the shift put on me all the time, id be practicing it.
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