I was listening to WKNR while the Tribe game was going on yesterday afternoon and of course I had to hear all these "experts", including the host talk about baseball strategy, particularly when and when not to bunt. Most of the baseball writers I read talk about what a waste the bunt is, and I agree with them. However, most fans who want the hitters to bunt do not understand the ramifications of the act.
First of all, baseball is not a game driven by time. The only measurable thing about the actual playing is the 27 outs in a nine inning game. Having a hitter lay down a bunt forfeits one of those precious outs. So, there better be a very good reason for doing it.
In the fifth inning of yesterday’s game, with the Tribe leading 2-1, Grady Sizemore and Jason Michaels singled putting runners on first and second with no one out and the #3 hitter Jhonny Peralta at the plate. The young shortstop hit .292 last season with 24 HR’s. So, why would you want him to bunt? If he does, you now have runners on second and third with one out, and Ozzie Guillen would likely pitch around Travis Hafner to set up a double play. The people who complained they should have bunted because Hafner flied out to center and it would have been a sacrifice fly are wrong because Hafner likely would not have swung the bat.
Now go to the White Sox seventh inning with lefty Scott Sauerbeck on the mound. Scott Posednik walked to start the inning, and Guillen had Tadahiro Iguchi bunt him over to second. Tribe skipper Eric Wedge immediately walked Jim Thome intentionally. The Sox manager took the bat out of Thome’s hands. Yet, Kenny Roda and his callers loved Guillen’s move. Wedge then brought in Rafael Betancourt to get Paul Konerko, who hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
In the 11th inning, it made sense to have Sizemore bunt Casey Blake over, because you are playing for one run, and Sizemore was facing Neil Cotts, who is tough on lefties. This bunt worked as Michaels plugged the gap for a double and the lead run. And amazingly for all those grandstand managers, the Tribe beat the Pale Hose in a one run game.
Managers get paid to think ahead. They have to look two or three batters ahead when mapping out a strategy. That’s what fans do not understand, and I guess some sports talk show hosts as well.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 