Comments on: Game 2009.045: Tigers at Royals

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:34:56 +0000

Disagree. A successful bunt, when a good or even average hitter is at the plate, reduces the expected number of runs and reduces the likelihood of a run being scored in the first place (check any run likelihood vs. outs and men on base chart and it will verify that).

When it’s a pitcher or Sardinha, it’s a different situation, which is why it makes sense to have pitchers and lousy hitters bunt. It’s absolutely self-defeating to have a good hitter bunt to make an out. Bunting for a hit is a different story.

Last night in Baltimore the Tigers gave away two crucial outs by insisting on bunting. In one case Santiago had a 2-0 and then a 2-1 count. A walk moves the runners up without giving up an out, yet they still had him bunting even on a 2-2 pitch. And having Polanco bunt when the next two hitters are power hitters and can drive in someone from first base was foolish as well.

As the others note, you get 27 outs. Don’t waste them.

By: David

David — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:19:41 +0000

Cobb used that many times, then again he was a bunting legend.

Still we saw that in the 2006 WS where there were bunts or slow hits to the pitcher and he had a bit of difficulty fielding his position and/or throwing with accuracy to the base.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:47:26 +0000

It’s also a nice trick, the bunting is, when the opposing team’s pitchers are known for fielding the bunt and then throwing randomly toward no glove-wearing uniformed teammate…

By: Mr. X

Mr. X — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:16:48 +0000

IMO, good teams bunt just enough to keep the other teams defense honest. The threat of bunting is more damaging to the defense than the bunt itself. The holes in the infield get a heck of a lot bigger when the infield positions itself for the bunt.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:10:56 +0000

The real secret to the 2005 White Sox was their starting pitchers throwing approximately 948 innings in the postseason. And Jenks. And Paul Konerko impersonating a productive ballplayer.

By: RPS

RPS — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:50:30 +0000

And just to nip it in the bud, the 2005 White Sox hit 200 homers. Fourth in the AL. They had a total of 102 sac flies/bunts. They were 70/137 stealing bases. The secret to the feted smallball team was having enough power up and down the lineup to overcome the wasted outs. And their bullpen was crazy, crazy good.

By: RPS

RPS — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:38:38 +0000

I agree and disagree with all of this. I am a huge fan of bunting for a hit. There are a lot of pitchers and third basemen around who can’t convert a decent bunt into an out. All guys with above average speed should be able to lay down a bunt well enough to get on against Ponson/Teahen. That said, I hate the sacrifice bunt with all my hating ability. Bunting as a surprise or change of pace or beating a sucky 3B and big fat pitcher tends to work. Bunting predictably is for the bottom of the ninth, tie game, man on first, no outs. And that’s about it.

I don’t like hit-and-runs generally, but I would be downright ecstatic to never again see a hit-and-run with Ordonez or Cabrera on first. If you’re not even staying out of the DP, you’re saying “Here. Have an out. I’m not using it anyway”.

By: David

David — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:33:51 +0000

Yes if we need a run. If those guys don’t know how to lay down a nice bunt, since the art has been effectively lost, then it is a different story.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:06:27 +0000

The only acceptable form of bunting is those red white and blue half circle things around the park during the postseason.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:02:28 +0000

To say nothing of the situation: if Polanco leads off an inning with a single, should Ordonez or Cabrera be bunting?

Each team gets 27 outs, use them wisely.

By: bill

bill — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:18:21 +0000

Only the Mariners and Royals have more sac bunts than the Tigers in the AL. And look at those offenses. Is that what the Tigers should be striving for?

By: Ryan P.

Ryan P. — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:13:59 +0000

I have enjoyed the style of play this year. There is more bunting and hit-and-running, but not too much I think. Although running into outs with the hit-and-run is fairly frustrating.

I know Leyland often alludes to how he “manages with his gut”. Which is fine with me. There is often never a right answer to playing small ball or not in any given inning. There are potential successes or failures both ways.

By: jb61973

jb61973 — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:09:59 +0000

So the fact that everyone else manages the game by bunting and giving away outs means it is the right way to do it?

By: Jerry the Tiger fan

Jerry the Tiger fan — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:51:45 +0000

I disagree with Bilfer on the Anderson in the lead-off spot role. We are wasting Granderson’s power and extra base hit ability (although we haven’t seen it as much this year) in the lead-off spot.

Also, why does Leyland refuse to bunt more often than he does? He finally bunts in the fifth inning and it leads to a run, welcome to the way baseball is managed by everyone else Jimmy! This issue has been bothering me ever since the first of those two gut-wrenching losses in Minnesota. If you’ll recall the Tigers got the leadoff man on in four of the five innings from the 9th inning on (the extra inning loss on Crede’s walk-off), and each time the Tigers swung away and grounded into DPs. I don’t get why Leyland won’t bunt people along more often, especially given this team’s trouble in scoring runs this year. We have one guy who should never bunt (Cabrera), the rest should (including Inge who seems to be deemed as untouchable in terms of bunting by ole Jimmy).

By: Mr. X

Mr. X — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:19:01 +0000

I’m the least bit disappointed with Granderson. Compared to other American League CF’s, he’s doing rather well. He’s also on pace to have career highs in Homers, Walks. and RBI’s.

Also, take a look at Granderson’s 3 year splits-
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....e=batting3
He usually only hits about .270 in April/May, but in June/July he hits about .320. Once he get’s hot, which he eventually will, his average goes up, and so will the rest of his numbers. He’s on his way to having a career year.