Sac Bunt Problems

[Hapshoops32]

I'm open to suggestions anyone may have. Sacrifice bunting, especially with pitchers, is ridiculously frustrating. There are way too many instances where the batter either bunts into a double play (most of them seem to be to the 1st base side) or a force out at 2nd base. There are even instances when the computer tries for the force at 2nd but doesn't get the throw there in time so everyone is safe all around.

I understand that it's baseball, and these plays DO happen. But - it's the frequency that concerns me. These sac bunts turned for double plays/force outs at 2nd don't happen EVERY time. But - they do happen more frequently than they should.

I've played about 30 games.. so I know that's not a huge sample size. But really, this is going to even out somehow over the course of a season? It's possible, but I doubt it.

Anyway - if anyone else is experiencing this as well - any thoughts on how best to avoid this - at least when I'm hitting? I can't control what the CPU does - but maybe I can at least avoid them more often?

[Subway_sub]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

Been a problem for a couple of years now. Apparently they turfed bunting because it was being abused online? Iirc

I've seen some people say that aiming your bunt, or not setting your bunt really early helps but it never helped me.

I just don't bunt anymore, I'll let my pitcher swing now, would rather strike out or even hit into a double play rather than bunt into a dp.

Annoying but not a huge deal to me

[Circle the Wagons]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

I just swing away with the pitchers and cross my fingers. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a way to reliably bunt. It’s really too bad because I prefer the NL for my franchises.

[RonnieDubs78]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

We're in 2020 and you still can't reliably sac bunt in a game that touts its realism....


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[bb9]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

I think there might be a timing aspect to it. Not too soon but not so late where it's a drag bunt.

[LastActionHero]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

Back in the day bunting worked pretty well, I think since ‘17 or ‘18 it went downhill.

[tdogg097]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

I have only bunted twice in my AL franchise so far. Both of those bunts have been perfect sacrifices. Both were by non-pitchers. One had a 31 bunt rating and the other a 78. Both were RH and I aimed towards the first base side. Have you had the same outcomes with position players vs pitchers?

[capa]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

It looks like they "fixed" the bunt-dp issue by having the cpu bunt to the 2B all the time. A bandaid approach. Even when I try to drop a sac bunt it goes towards the 2B.

C

[countryboy]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

One thing I've stopped doing on sac bunts is choosing which side to bunt the ball by pressing the R-stick either left (3rd base) or right (first base) and it has yielded pretty good results. To me it seems the game registers this as an attempt to bunt for a hit and results in the ball coming off the bat with more force.

I'm also a believer in squaring around immediately so the game registers it as a sac bunt attempt and a believe in releasing triangle right as/before contact is made to "deaden" the ball. Not perfect nor fool proof but this tactic has worked for me moreso than not.

.02

[JTommy67]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

Let me save you the trouble - there isn't anything you can do. Due to online complaints about drag bunting, they decided to wreck the physics, which also screwed sacrifice bunting, instead of focusing in on how the drag bunting rating was being used.

The results are embarrassing. Read carefully and watch:

https://forums.operationsports.com/forums/mlb-show/967004-extended-video-demonstrating-sacrifice-bunting-flaws-mlbts-20-a.html

You might be able to have slightly more success by trying separate things, but you'll never even get close to the normal success rate on balls that are bunted into play.

[Armor and Sword]

Sac Bunt Problems

Before MLB 17 is was automatic cheese. Every hitter was an all-star bunter. Both online and offline.

Now like CB says you do not preload a side with the RS and square well before the ball is pitched. Once your about to have contact release the triangle button.

Also bunt strikes. If you try to bunt bad pitches you will not be successful.

It is not automatic but it is not Impossible.

You are not supposed to be able to sac at will. And you should not have 100% failure following these steps.

In many of my streams when I attempt sacs people have seen it work for me multiple times and ask how we did it.

Basically the same way CB explained.


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[countryboy]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

Before MLB 17 is was automatic cheese. Every hitter was an all-star bunter. Both online and offline.

Now like CB says you do not preload a side with the RS and square well before the ball is pitched. Once your about to have contact release the triangle button.

Also bunt strikes. If you try to bunt bad pitches you will not be successful.

It is not automatic but it is not Impossible.

You are not supposed to be able to sac at will. And you should not have 100% failure following these steps.

In many of my streams when I attempt sacs people have seen it work for me multiple times and ask how we did it.

Basically the same way CB explained.


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A&S...

What are your thoughts on the L-Stick (PCI) playing a part in bunt attempts? Do you think the PCI is used or not? Personally I keep bouncing back and forth on which side I fall on in this regard.

Curious to hear/read your thoughts.

[Hapshoops32]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

I have only bunted twice in my AL franchise so far. Both of those bunts have been perfect sacrifices. Both were by non-pitchers. One had a 31 bunt rating and the other a 78. Both were RH and I aimed towards the first base side. Have you had the same outcomes with position players vs pitchers?

It's happened with both position players and pitchers for me. I don't bunt too often with position players - but there have been a couple of instances where it's late in the game and I'm playing for the tying or go-ahead run when I've done it... and got screwed over lol.

[JTommy67]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

Before MLB 17 is was automatic cheese. Every hitter was an all-star bunter. Both online and offline.

The problem here is the continued conflation of drag bunting with sacrifice bunting. There would be no way to "cheese" sacrifice bunting because you're giving the opponent an out in the process. Do it three times in a row and the inning is over.

Drag bunting, whole 'nother story.

But MLB success rates on sacrifice attempts - once the bunt is laid down - is well beyond 70%, and that's a very conservative estimate, as last year the figure for ALL attempts was 64% (https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...-batting.shtml), which includes failures due to strikeouts (which actually accounts for most failures).

The question, to me, is not whether it's possible to lay down a sac bunt (it is), or even whether you can get better (you can) - but how far away from the target percentage we are. Sac bunting is futile with these percentages, and if this was any reflection of actual MLB, then you'd NEVER see a sac bunt attempt in the majors, ever.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Sac Bunt Problems

A&S...

What are your thoughts on the L-Stick (PCI) playing a part in bunt attempts? Do you think the PCI is used or not? Personally I keep bouncing back and forth on which side I fall on in this regard.

Curious to hear/read your thoughts.

In my mind it has to play a part. Bat plane is critical to bunting just like hitting.