Newb on bunting

[MWill6]

Hey guys sorry for such a beginner question. Can someone explain what exactly is bunting? What's a drag bunt vs sacrifice bunt? And in what situation should you bunt in? Thanks

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Newb on bunting

Hey guys sorry for such a beginner question. Can someone explain what exactly is bunting? What's a drag bunt vs sacrifice bunt? And in what situation should you bunt in? Thanks

A drag bunt is an attempt to actually get on base, usually by catching the defense offguard.
A regular bunt is just trying to move a runner from station to station, with no real intent to get on base, thus the "sacrifice". The art of bunting is almost lost nowadays. Some folks will even tell you you should never, ever bunt, not even with a weak hitting pitcher. But traditional wisdom holds that with less than 2 out & a runner on base, you should bunt with the pitcher. esp. if it's late & you're in a tied game. Drag bunting is optimized if you have a speedy lefthanded hitter.

[calbrs04]

Re: Newb on bunting

A drag bunt is an attempt to actually get on base, usually by catching the defense offguard.
A regular bunt is just trying to move a runner from station to station, with no real intent to get on base, thus the "sacrifice". The art of bunting is almost lost nowadays. Some folks will even tell you you should never, ever bunt, not even with a weak hitting pitcher. But traditional wisdom holds that with less than 2 out & a runner on base, you should bunt with the pitcher. esp. if it's late & you're in a tied game. Drag bunting is optimized if you have a speedy lefthanded hitter.

To add to what he said, when drag bunting you usually wait until the last possible second to bunt the ball. When doing a sacrifice bunt, the batter usually shows bunt when the pitcher is starting his motion. Plus side to a sac bunt is better bat control. Also with a drag but, you want to place it down the line or between the pitcher and first baseman.

[MWill6]

Re: Newb on bunting

Thanks guys. Is this a tactic better utilized late in close games or does it matter? More often than not it seems you are going to get the batter out on the play is this accurate? Also this might be a common sense question but is bunting used more by speedy players as well as pitchers. I use the Marlins and the pitcher has to bat

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Newb on bunting

Thanks guys. Is this a tactic better utilized late in close games or does it matter? More often than not it seems you are going to get the batter out on the play is this accurate? Also this might be a common sense question but is bunting used more by speedy players as well as pitchers. I use the Marlins and the pitcher has to bat

I'll lay a drag bunt down at any time.
I'll only sac bunt (regular bunt) early innings with a pitcher.
A regular bunt you're not really attempting to get on base, you're just trying to advance a runner. So I wouldn't use a regular bunt with no one on base. Drag bunting is better with speedy players but again, a regular bunt you're not really attempting to get on base, you just want to get the ball in play without GIDP.

[sccavs64]

Re: Newb on bunting

I'll lay a drag bunt down at any time.
I'll only sac bunt (regular bunt) early innings with a pitcher.
A regular bunt you're not really attempting to get on base, you're just trying to advance a runner. So I wouldn't use a regular bunt with no one on base. Drag bunting is better with speedy players but again, a regular bunt you're not really attempting to get on base, you just want to get the ball in play without GIDP.

Piggy-backing off of Ghost, don't be afraid to lay down a drag bunt at any time. If you have a speedy Lefty (like maybe 80 speed or above) and he lays down a bunt on the 3rd base line, it's a hit almost every single time.

Of course a sacrifice bunt will be an out 99% of the time (fielding/throwing errors happen sometimes), but sacrifices are huge in close game situations. I hit into a lot of double plays personally, so in a tie ball game in the 8th inning, I'd much rather have a runner on 2nd base with 2 outs than a runner on first with 1 out and try to bat him around to score.

[mb625]

Re: Newb on bunting

Other situations where a bunt may be useful is late in a close game. Say you've got a runner on second with nobody out in a tie game in the bottom of the 9th and a weak hitter at the plate, you may think about bunting him to third where a sac fly could score him.

I am, however, pretty solidly against bunting as a rule. I don't like giving up an out unless it's my pitcher. But, that's the "conventional wisdom" kind of approach.