Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

[snepp]

Re: Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

I think it's funny that people think Major League hitters can't lay down a bunt. These guys practice it everyday in BP, and while I understand it's not the same, their hand-eye control is good enough to lay down an easy bunt toward 3rd base (Rizzo did it twice in a game earlier this season).

Weird, I was just thinking it's funny that people think bunting is easy and guaranteed to work whenever you want it to.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-truth-about-bunting/

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/more-...ing-the-shift/

[Jr.]

Re: Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

Weird, I was just thinking it's funny that people think bunting is easy and guaranteed to work whenever you want it to.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-truth-about-bunting/

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/more-...ing-the-shift/

Here's the thing about those numbers. When non-pitchers bunt, even with sacrifices, they're usually trying to get a hit the first pitch. You're taught when learning to bunt for a hit "perfect or foul". This means, get it right on the line where you can get a hit, or have it go foul and try again the next time. That obviously makes the margin of error pretty small. I would like to see the numbers for subsequent attempts in an at-bat (i.e. after a foul or unsuccessful first attempt). I would imagine they're much higher.

Now, when bunting against the shift, it's not necessary to put the ball in a spot of about 1 foot, there is much more room for error. I never stated that MLB hitters would be 100% successful when attempting to bunt.

My ultimate point remains.. these guys don't bunt regularly because they don't want to give up opportunities to drive the ball.

[Steven78]

Re: Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

Exactly. Most times the defenses are daring them to bunt and they don't.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

Good to see Josh Reddick reach first on a bunt against the shift tonight. Errant pickoff throw to first allowed Reddick to reach 2nd. Next batter homers.


Didn't consider the following until it happened tonight against the shift. Ortiz at the plate with the shift in play. Dustin Pedroia steals second with no one covering third base. Pedroia immediately breaks for third and reaches safely ... 2 stolen bases in one go.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/dustin-pedroias-heads-up-play-nets-two-stolen-bases?ymd=20140810&content_id=88884404&vkey=news_mlb

[Jr.]

Re: Bunting against the Shift... Why don't more teams do it?

Good to see Josh Reddick reach first on a bunt against the shift tonight. Errant pickoff throw to first allowed Reddick to reach 2nd. Next batter homers.


Didn't consider the following until it happened tonight against the shift. Ortiz at the plate with the shift in play. Dustin Pedroia steals second with no one covering third base. Pedroia immediately breaks for third and reaches safely ... 2 stolen bases in one go.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/...&vkey=news_mlb

He and Ellsbury are notorious for that. Last week, when the Yanks/Sox played, Ellsbury stole second during a shift and Pedroia sprinted from his position at 2B toward 3B to make sure Ellsbury couldn't take 3rd.