Baseball strategy.......1st and 2nd SAC BUNT..........1st base or 3rd base line????

Fishhead · May 1, 2006

SCENARIO===1st and 2nd, no out.

Sac bunt is called.

By the books, the bunter is supposed to bunt down the 3rd base line to make the third baseman commit.

NOT SURE IF I AGREE WITH THIS...........THE MAIN REASON BEING IT IS A LONGER THROW TO THIRD FOR THE FORCE OUT IF BUNTED UP THE 1ST BASE LINE, THUS MAKING IT A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL IN MY OPINION......especially against a right-handed first baseman.

What are your thoughts?

Fishhead · May 1, 2006

Much tougher play for the pitcher too.........if they elect to go to third for the force.

mike0187 · May 1, 2006

Good question

I say a good bunter goes down the 3rd base line, to ensure the ball getting by the pitcher. Bad bunter goes down the 1st base line because of what you said

Fishhead · May 1, 2006

mike0187 said:
Good question

I say a good bunter goes down the 3rd base line, to ensure the ball getting by the pitcher. Bad bunter goes down the 1st base line because of what you said

Please note, seldom agree with the use of the SAC BUNT near as much as most ML managers.

Journeyman · May 1, 2006

That's not the only reason you bunt to third instead of first though.

CollegeFan · May 1, 2006

If he is a good bunter and a speedster, bunt toward 3rd, so maybe he can beat it out & set up a big inning.

But if it is late in the game & a close game, I would bunt down 1st to be safe.

SkinsRaj28 · May 1, 2006

Funny you bring this topic up, as Pitt had 1st and 2nd, no out in the 8th...and the guy couldn't get a bunt down, ended up striking out. Next two guys go down as well, no runs. Idiots.

Arodd · May 1, 2006

the book changes depending on what bunt defense is going on. some managers on teh defensive side will tell their 3rd baseman to hold and tell the pitcher to get everything on the 3rd base line, have the 1st baseman charge to possibly get the out at 3rd, have the 2nd basemen cover 1st base, and the SS cover 2nd base...
keeps offenses in check from doing the same bunt.
more ways to play than just one.

PatrickMcIrish · May 1, 2006

Yeah Dsethi is right, strategy can depend on what the defense is giving you. We had all kinds of options as to what we would do, had this thing called the wheel etc... when we were in the field and faced a potential bunting situation. All things being equal though it's really tough not to move the runners up if you bunt up the 3rd base line and force him to field the bunt. Tough as hell for the SS to even get over in time to cover the bag if the 3rd baseman is fielding it, let alone take a good throw.

That said I agree with Fisher, I think the sac bunt is way overused. I hate to see an out given and the bat taken out of a hitters hands when you got the oppossing pitcher on the ropes.

aceduecetrey · May 1, 2006

Is the pitcher a lefty or a righty?

tkf18ny · May 2, 2006

aceduecetrey said:
Is the pitcher a lefty or a righty?

finally someone with the right answer
Im a lefty and always laughed when people bunted on me towards the 3rd base line with 1st and 2nd- its such an easy throw to third for a lefty. The throw to first for a lefty (sac bunt with just a man on first) is very difficult.

jeckll · May 2, 2006

Yep...mostly depends on whether the pitcher is R or L. Also if they have the wheel going it changes...

Fishhead · May 2, 2006

cklennon said:
Yep...mostly depends on whether the pitcher is R or L. Also if they have the wheel going it changes...

Obviously it makes a difference, but you are not watching a lot of MLB then.

MANY, MANY, times there is a left-handed or pitcher on the mound and the wheel is in operation and the batter still proceeds to bunt up the 3b line.........see it all the time and the force out at third is a relatively easy play for the defense.

I think in MLB the bunt should be placed up the 1B line in most cases and will stand by this, as the extra length of the throw is a big advantage in my opinion. In LESSER leagues(high school for example), going up the 3B line is probably more attractive because fielders are not as gifted.

Last night was a prime time once again where the SAC BUNT was overused. The BOSOX are down 3-1 and have runners on 1st and 2nd and they decide to sac bunt..........GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! No way do I agree with this, ESPECIALLY in a park like Fenway where batters averages are automatically 14 points higher.

By the way, not that it matters, but a force out at third occurred.

The_Man · May 2, 2006

bunt down the 3rd base line!

if the 3rd baseman is playing back, then that is golden. if the 3rd baseman charges, nobody to cover 3rd. either way, with guys on 1st & 2nd with no outs i bunt down the 3rd base line. if the runner at 2nd gets thrown out at 3rd then both the runner and the bunter deserve demotions to triple-a ball. never saw the guy get thrown out at 3rd in this situation. youd really have to suck to let that happen.

Fishhead · May 2, 2006

The_Man said:
bunt down the 3rd base line!

if the 3rd baseman is playing back, then that is golden. if the 3rd baseman charges, nobody to cover 3rd. either way, with guys on 1st & 2nd with no outs i bunt down the 3rd base line. if the runner at 2nd gets thrown out at 3rd then both the runner and the bunter deserve demotions to triple-a ball. never saw the guy get thrown out at 3rd in this situation. youd really have to suck to let that happen.

Huh?

The SS covers thirdbase.

You have never seen a guy thrown out at 3rd in this situation?

Huh....how much baseball do you watch?

The_Man · May 2, 2006

3rd baseman charges with shortstop covering 3rd. he still has to field the ball cleanly, twist around and get a good throw. with the guy getting a good lead and jump at 2nd i think its safe. bunting down 1st with the 1st baseman charging, he fields it clean and gets a good throw, that sounds more dangerous.

im sure its happened, but very rarely as youd have to seriously suck.

Fishhead · May 2, 2006

The_Man said:
3rd baseman charges with shortstop covering 3rd. he still has to field the ball cleanly, twist around and get a good throw. with the guy getting a good lead and jump at 2nd i think its safe. bunting down 1st with the 1st baseman charging, he fields it clean and gets a good throw, that sounds more dangerous.

There are definetly a LOT of determining factors on what baseline to use..........no question there is not a clear cut right or wrong approach.

Guess what we all can take from this is that I hope the majority here agree the SAC BUNT is over used in MLB baseball.

The_Man · May 2, 2006

would agree with that.

Fishhead · May 2, 2006

The_Man said:
would agree with that.

:toast:

Arodd · May 2, 2006

think what we can also take away is that there is so much freakin strategy in this game. hate when people think baseball is so simple...its as complex as can be, which is one ofthe reasons i love it