Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

[caseyj622]

No matter if its me or the CPU, anytime there is a bunt attempt it is always hit hard. Its basically an easy double play if you have a runner on first and attempt to bunt. I almost feel like im cheating when the CPU bunts because its literally always a double play. But then when I try to bunt they usually turn two also so I guess it evens out. Are you guys having this issue also?

[MightyMaxxx13]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

No matter if its me or the CPU, anytime there is a bunt attempt it is always hit hard. Its basically an easy double play if you have a runner on first and attempt to bunt. I almost feel like im cheating when the CPU bunts because its literally always a double play. But then when I try to bunt they usually turn two also so I guess it evens out. Are you guys having this issue also?

Yes. I think SDS nerfed bunting to put a stop to online players who spam bunts with speedsters for guaranteed hits. It definitely hurts offline play, like you said I turn CPU bunts into double plays 99% of the time.

[bcruise]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

No matter if its me or the CPU, anytime there is a bunt attempt it is always hit hard. Its basically an easy double play if you have a runner on first and attempt to bunt. I almost feel like im cheating when the CPU bunts because its literally always a double play. But then when I try to bunt they usually turn two also so I guess it evens out. Are you guys having this issue also?

This is a bit of a contentious issue here, so I'm just going to get my piece in before others get here and then probably go quiet...

Are you holding down the bunt control (Triangle) before the pitcher releases the ball? That's what you need to do to execute a sacrifice - it's not the same as a drag bunt where the button is pressed after the ball has been delivered.

If you are holding it down before the pitch release, try to delay the press a little longer - so that the 1B moves sideways off of 1st after holding the runner on, when the pitcher starts his motion. You might need to use Fisheye or a similar camera to see this movement. Getting the 1B to not charge the bunt immediately is a big key to successfully sacrificing.

Generally I don't have any trouble sacrificing when I want to (unless I pop up a bunt or push them foul) because the CPU is extremely hesitant to throw to 2nd on a bunt down the line, much more so than a human player would be. It's true, the bunts do come out too hard - but the CPU won't throw to 2nd on me unless it's going to throw the runner out by 10 feet. As such, I do the same - basically a "House Rule" thing.

Drag bunts are a different story entirely - they aren't successful enough, even with players who have the bunt master quirk. I'd say it needs to be patched, but this is a legacy thing and SDS has shown no signs of changing the way this works, probably out of concern that it would be too easy to execute online.

[countryboy]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Bcruise did a great job of explaining it. I don't have an issue with "rocket bunts"

I've had several (only took video of the one) similar to the one in the video below, although they weren't popped up they were bunted with same power but to the ground.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YO_skJ9hGEw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[KBLover]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Are you holding down the bunt control (Triangle) before the pitcher releases the ball? That's what you need to do to execute a sacrifice - it's not the same as a drag bunt where the button is pressed after the ball has been delivered.

I do this but I still had issues (maybe because I'm on Directional?).

But if I let go of the triangle button just before contact, I get much better results both this year and in MLB17.

Not sure if that has anything to do with it (it shouldn't...) but...I can't ignore what I've seen since I started doing that consistently.

[Caulfield]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

2012 set the record for fewest bunts per game
the downward spiral continued with new record lows set in 2013, then again in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 is also on pace for a new low. I wonder if this is SanDiego's way of getting people to stop bunting, though I do realise the cheesing problem with online bunting.

Do you guys have rocket bunts with the elite bunters like dee gordon, cesar hernandez, dj lemahieu, starling marte, jean segura, asdrubal cabrera, billy hamilton, brett gardner, leonys martin, jarrd dyson, tim anderson, alcides escobar, erick aybar, denard span, danny espinosa, craig gentry, steve lombardozzi,

or pitchers like max scherzer, johnny cueto, jon lester, jimmy nelson, julio teheran, zach davies, dan straily, andrew cashner or junior guerra?

if there is no problem bunting with guys like these then maybe its time to consider turning players you need to bunt with into 90+ bunters. its a lost & dying art & you cant just let anybody do it. you're literally giving outs away & maybe it's best to let your hitters swing away & leave the bunting to pitchers?

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

2012 set the record for fewest bunts per game
the downward spiral continued with new record lows set in 2013, then again in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 is also on pace for a new low. I wonder if this is SanDiego's way of getting people to stop bunting, though I do realise the cheesing problem with online bunting.

Do you guys have rocket bunts with the elite bunters like dee gordon, cesar hernandez, dj lemahieu, starling marte, jean segura, asdrubal cabrera, billy hamilton, brett gardner, leonys martin, jarrd dyson, tim anderson, alcides escobar, erick aybar, denard span, danny espinosa, craig gentry, steve lombardozzi,

or pitchers like max scherzer, johnny cueto, jon lester, jimmy nelson, julio teheran, zach davies, dan straily, andrew cashner or junior guerra?

if there is no problem bunting with guys like these then maybe its time to consider turning players you need to bunt with into 90+ bunters. its a lost & dying art & you cant just let anybody do it. you're literally giving outs away & maybe it's best to let your hitters swing away & leave the bunting to pitchers?

I am just impressed you have a list of elite bunters readily on hand at seemingly a moment's notice.

[countryboy]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

I am just impressed you have a list of elite bunters readily on hand at seemingly a moment's notice.

He's been working on that list since the game launched just for a moment like this.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

2012 set the record for fewest bunts per game
the downward spiral continued with new record lows set in 2013, then again in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 is also on pace for a new low. I wonder if this is SanDiego's way of getting people to stop bunting, though I do realise the cheesing problem with online bunting.

Do you guys have rocket bunts with the elite bunters like dee gordon, cesar hernandez, dj lemahieu, starling marte, jean segura, asdrubal cabrera, billy hamilton, brett gardner, leonys martin, jarrd dyson, tim anderson, alcides escobar, erick aybar, denard span, danny espinosa, craig gentry, steve lombardozzi,

or pitchers like max scherzer, johnny cueto, jon lester, jimmy nelson, julio teheran, zach davies, dan straily, andrew cashner or junior guerra?

if there is no problem bunting with guys like these then maybe its time to consider turning players you need to bunt with into 90+ bunters. its a lost & dying art & you cant just let anybody do it. you're literally giving outs away & maybe it's best to let your hitters swing away & leave the bunting to pitchers?

I played MLB 16 with Dee Gordon on my team the majority of the time for several seasons. Bunted with him ALL the time, to great success. Would sometimes bunt for hits with others too. Getting sac bunts down was rarely an issue.

Traded for Gordon during the first season of my franchise this year, and he couldn't bunt for a hit EVER. In general, its much more difficult for me to get a bunt down the third base line, no matter who is doing it and in which circumstance.

In 16, I would also frequently bunt down the line with Rizzo in certain circumstances, when the defense was shifting, and there was a difficult and/or LH pitcher. If it didn't go foul, it was a hit a lot of the time. This year, if its not foul, the third baseman gets it and throws the player out no matter where he was before the pitch, and no matter how fast the batter is. The only exception is if the third baseman misses the ball when he goes to pick it up.

I'm still able to execute sac bunts down the first base line with what I would call a fair and even level of success. But the first baseman ALWAYS gets to the ball halfway down the line and gets my runner out. If I move the other runner(s), thats then the best case outcome now.

In virtually all other previous versions of the game, I would sometimes bunt down the third base line if the bags were loaded and I had a fast runner up to bat. Now, the old suicide squeeze is just that. Total failure.

[KBLover]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

the downward spiral continued with new record lows set in 2013, then again in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 is also on pace for a new low. I wonder if this is SanDiego's way of getting people to stop bunting, though I do realise the cheesing problem with online bunting.

If so, that's a poor thing to do.

Baseball "meta" shouldn't influence how the physics of the sport work.

Physics doesn't care about "meta". That's on what the managers do, i.e., us.

[caseyj622]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Honestly it's not a problem for me because I very rarely bunt, and if I need to I can just call a bunt and run. The problem for me is the CPU bunting is horrible. I hate feeling like im cheating when I can turn a double play anytime they bunt. At the same time, I don't want to feel like I should just implement a house rule where I hold back and just let them sacrafice bunt the man to 2nd even when I know I could easily get him out.

[underdog13]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Do you guys use the left stick to direct your blunts? I've had much better success with drag and sac bunts when I do.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Do you guys use the left stick to direct your blunts? I've had much better success with drag and sac bunts when I do.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

If I'm trying to send it down the 1st or 3rd base line, then yes, every time. If I'm just squaring up with my pitcher, trying to move the man from first to second, then no.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

Because on line cheats want to have records of 603-42....screw it up for off line, but hey, we don't pay to play off line (except we do pay the original purchase of $59.99). Same reasoning for players not having first base assigned who drop all the throws. On line cheats.

How about I pay less for the game when they take game play elements out? That ain't gonna happen.

So, stupid house rules it is.

[underdog13]

Re: Why is every bunt a rocket this year?

If I'm trying to send it down the 1st or 3rd base line, then yes, every time. If I'm just squaring up with my pitcher, trying to move the man from first to second, then no.

Try pushing the left stick down when you sac bunt

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk