.304 and a Batting Champion?

[Meathead]

A well executed bunt at the right time is a great tool. But I see very few major leaguers have that talent anymore.

Of course I enjoy seeing a man like Judge demolish a baseball 60 or so times in a good year. But I also lament the fact that the major leagues have forgotten (to a large extent) something as basic as advancing a base runner.

I’m an optimist more often than not. So, I believe a dynamic combination of small ball mixed with some swinging for the seats may make an appearance, soon.

One of the reason the bunt has become unusual is the DH. Instead of weak-hitting pitchers now we've got burly guys how have never bunted in their careers.

 

[BackAgain]

One of the reason the bunt has become unusual is the DH. Instead of weak-hitting pitchers now we've got burly guys how have never bunted in their careers.

It should still be taught and drilled into the players’ skill set even in the minors.

One of the beauties of baseball, in my estimation, is bringing a variety of options with you to the plate to keep the defense a bit off kilter.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

A well executed bunt at the right time is a great tool. But I see very few major leaguers have that talent anymore.

Of course I enjoy seeing a man like Judge demolish a baseball 60 or so times in a good year. But I also lament the fact that the major leagues have forgotten (to a large extent) something as basic as advancing a base runner.

I’m an optimist more often than not. So, I believe a dynamic combination of small ball mixed with some swinging for the seats may make an appearance, soon.

Thats one of the goals of eliminating the shift and increasing the size of the bases.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

It should still be taught and drilled into the players’ skill set even in the minors.

One of the beauties of baseball, in my estimation, is bringing a variety of options with you to the plate to keep the defense a bit off kilter.

The problem with the bunt is that it is itself so risky, for such a small reward. Can't bunt with two strikes. Gotta lay down a perfect bunt, or you may make two outs instead of one. And you are essentially giving away an out with a major league hitter at the plate.

 

[BackAgain]

Thats one of the goals of eliminating the shift and increasing the size of the bases.

I used to see the shift leaving a big ass gap up the third base side and was irked that more players didn’t punish the defense by bunting down that side of the infield. Eventually, I grasped that these modern players (for the most part) were just not adequate at bunting.

That’s why MLB elected (I believe) to outlaw the overshift.

The big bases were to generate more efforts at base stealing. And those ridiculous extra long “oven mitts” they now wear for base stealing add insult to injury.

Frankly, I’d eliminate them and the oversized bases. I’d eliminate the DH, too. And I’d certainly eliminate the “ghost runners” for regular season extra innings.

But I doubt baseball will agree.

 

[gold something]

oh it isnt?...ok...you just cant figure out what the numbers mean so you dont like them...

No, it isn't. You're just adding stats together and speculating.

 

[gold something]

Then you dont understand WAR. Or OPS, haha.

You don't understand basic math.

 

[gold something]

OPS is redundant
If you hit a double it counts as a hit and then as 2B

Why not just add walks to slugging ?

Hey, why not just add HPB to fielding percentage?

 

[Harry Dresden]

I’ll give you one

Total Bases/Plate Appearances

Total Bases= Walks+ Singles+Doubles+ Triples+HR + Steals-CS

walks are not part of TB....

 

[Harry Dresden]

No, it isn't. You're just adding stats together and speculating.

speculating on what?....is the players BA speculation?...

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

You don't understand basic math.

Riiiiight... me and all the career statisticians working for MBL GMs.

Okay, we see now that you are an attention seeking troll.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

I used to see the shift leaving a big ass gap up the third base side and was irked that more players didn’t punish the defense by bunting down that side of the infield. Eventually, I grasped that these modern players (for the most part) were just not adequate at bunting

Plenty of them may be decent at bunting. But having a good MLB hitter bunt there would just be a poor decision, because the success rate of even a good bunt just isn't great, and why take a bat out of the hands of a hitter who can hit for power?

Also, it's really damn hard to bunt against a guy who might throw 98 at the top of the zone or 90 with 15 inches of break.

If managers saw an advantage in bunting away from the shift, you would have seen it every game. Bunt drills every day.

 

[BackAgain]

Plenty of them may be decent at bunting. But having a good MLB hitter bunt there would just be a poor decision, because the success rate of even a good bunt just isn't great, and why take a bat out of the hands of a hitter who can hit for power?

Also, it's really damn hard to bunt against a guy who might throw 98 at the top of the zone or 90 with 15 inches of break.

If managers saw an advantage in bunting away from the shift, you would have seen it every game. Bunt drills every day.

There ought to have been bunt drills on the daily.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

There ought to have been bunt drills on the daily.

I get what you are saying, but clearly both the GMs and managers of every team saw no advantage in bunting away from the shift. And clearly they also don't see a lot of places for bunts in MLB games.

So the math and data is telling them to let their ML hitters swing the bat.

The ghost runner increases bunt opportunities, because a bunt by the home team, in a tie game, in the bottom of innings 10 through ___, has a much higher expectation. And STILL a lot of teams dont do it. Because they have a better expectation letting the player swing the bat. Why give away 1 of the 3 outs you have to win the game? Thats what a manager feels he is doing, if he chooses the lower expectation play.

 

[BackAgain]

I get what you are saying, but clearly both the GMs and managers of every team saw no advantage in bunting away from the shift. And clearly they also don't see a lot of places for bunts in MLB games.

So the math and data is telling them to let their ML hitters swing the bat.

The ghost runner increases bunt opportunities, because a bunt by the home team, in a tie game, in the bottom of innings 10 through ___, has a much higher expectation. And STILL a lot of teams dont do it. Because they have a better expectation letting the player swing the bat. Why give away 1 of the 3 outs you have to win the game? Thats what a manager feels he is doing, if he chooses the lower expectation play.

I also get your point. Indeed, as a Yankees fan, I’ve heard their TV broadcast team use that very same phrase about it.

On the other hand, there is a time for it. And there is a time to refrain.

Better to be prepared. So, practice practice practice. (How else does one get to Carnegie Hall?)

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

I also get your point. Indeed, as a Yankees fan, I’ve heard their TV broadcast team use that very same phrase about it.

On the other hand, there is a time for it. And there is a time to refrain.

Better to be prepared. So, practice practice practice. (How else does one get to Carnegie Hall?)

Agreed. As a fan, I sometimes don't get it. But the outcomes must just show them that letting the guys swing has a better expectation. The math of it all is probably not even all that complicated. Success of bunting a guy over to third with no outs, vs. swinging away. But even then, you would have to confine your analysis to close, late games. Because no manager in MLB is bunting for strategy before about the 7th inning. Bunting for a hit is usually a decision the player makes.

 

[rightwinger]

walks are not part of TB....

They should be.
You are getting on base

 

[BackAgain]

Agreed. As a fan, I sometimes don't get it. But the outcomes must just show them that letting the guys swing has a better expectation. The math of it all is probably not even all that complicated. Success of bunting a guy over to third with no outs, vs. swinging away. But even then, you would have to confine your analysis to close, late games. Because no manager in MLB is bunting for strategy before about the 7th inning. Bunting for a hit is usually a decision the player makes.

That’s my understanding.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

That’s my understanding.

Brewers just successfully bunted over runners from 1st and 2nd, with no outs. In the 5th inning. Playoff baseball is different.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Brewers just successfully bunted over runners from 1st and 2nd, with no outs.

Next guy strikes out, now there are 2 outs.

They had a runner in scoring position, with no outs, in the 5th inning. Down 3 runs. Tying run at the plate.

Now they have 2 outs and are facing a guy who throws 100 mph.

Pop out. No runs.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but a walk or a single (instead of a bunt attempt) gives them 1 or 2 runners in scoring position (or a run), with still nobody out. A K? Still a runner in scoring position, with only one out. Instead they gave away an out.