Too much bunting for basehits

[danielz]

I agree, too much bunting for hits

[PotKettleBlack]

[quote:630357bc4c="Ragnarok69"]I remember David Ortiz bunting for a base hit against the shift several years ago.

I'm sorry. I said David Ortiz bunted.

I agree that it isn't used often, and Ortiz would never get on base doing this against a regular defensive formation. But I also agree it could be done more. You can't score runs without guys on, so it makes sense for even sluggers to bunt if they can get on base that way. The chances of a solo home run are what? And yeah . . . do it enough and the defense has to respect it, and the resulting drawn-in fielders or un-shift will likely result in more hits when you aren't bunting.[/quote:630357bc4c]

Especially if you're a dead pull lefty. The great Ted Williams saw the shift, and after a couple of years of being a hard head about it, started going the other way a bit, and that was the end of the shift. I dunno if it's an ability, a mentality, or what, but if you're Ortiz in particular (slow, DH, extreme shifty) and you're leading off and inning, close and late, yeah, bunt it, or slug bunt it down third. Pull him for someone fast, increase the run expectancy for the inning large. Alternatively, show the bunt on the first pitch, see what the defense does.

[rjohaire]

PKB make some good points.
Coding it out - maybe we should have the ability to select 2 differnt buttons: bunt for hit and sac bunt instead of just don't bunt or bunt more often (or aggresive/conservative)

I could be wrong, its been a while since I played the box game, but I don't think speed of the batter is factored into a successful bunt. Its only his bunting ability and the fielders ability.

[PotKettleBlack]

[quote:933d6ac40a="rjoh"]PKB make some good points.
Coding it out - maybe we should have the ability to select 2 differnt buttons: bunt for hit and sac bunt instead of just don't bunt or bunt more often (or aggresive/conservative)

I could be wrong, its been a while since I played the box game, but I don't think speed of the batter is factored into a successful bunt. Its only his bunting ability and the fielders ability.[/quote:933d6ac40a]

That raises a question.
In real life, if Ortiz bunts against Mark Reynolds at third... That's ugh on ugh, right?

[mikemartinfl]

Speed of the batter does factor in.... the results of bunt for hit are either "hit", "speed", or some form of out.

speed factors in whether the infield is in, the defenders range, and then the speed of the batter.

the problem is, even with fours all over the infield, and a 1-17 guy at bat that is an "A" in bunting, his chances of getting on base with an awesome card (Honus Wagner 11 mil for example) are better than the odds of bunt for hit. plus by bunting it removes the chance for an extra base hit.