1st and 2nd , 0 outs. Pinch run for the lead runner.

I was watching the Orioles and Tigers paly the other night and a situation arose that sparked my interest. Here is what happened.

The Orioles were losing 6-4 in the ninth inning. The Orioles put their first two runners on base against Detroit closer Todd Jones. A classic bunt situation.

Dave Trembley calls time and pinch runs for his cleanup hitter Kevin Millar with pinch runner Freddie Bynum. At first I thought why is he pinch running for the 5th run? And then I immediately realized that he was going to be bunting and he wanted speed as the lead runner. It certainly makes an aggressive bunt defense less attractive if the lead runner has some wheels.

But, again, I'm going to regress and discuss how absurd the game of baseball can be at times.

Dave Trembley manages by the book. If you watch the Baltimore Orioles often you realize this. So, here, with the winning run walking to the plate Trembley announces as audibly as possible for anyone to hear, I'M BUNTING. Don't get me wrong, I think I probably would have bunted to. It's just that I think it's laughable that no professional baseball team ever thinks creatively on the defensive side of the ball (July 6th BLOG entry).

So, what happens?

The bunt is succesful. The Tigers hardly resisted. Maybe they were willing to have the tying run at 3rd with 1 out. Maybe they thought even if the Orioles tie the game they can beat them in extra innings.

But, consider that you have bunt defenses that teams practice all the time in spring training. If you aren't going to use an aggressive bunt defense when you KNOW (pulling your cleanup hitter for the 5th run) they are bunting, when will you use it?

Here's the last thing on this topic. Even if you choose to put the "wheel" play on. Even if you put the "flash" play on. This doesn't mean that you can't record the out at 1B. It simply means that you are prepared to record an out at 3B.

I'm certain the Tigers braintrusts understood the situation and made a decision based upon some criteria. This entry isn't meant to disparage the Tigers coaches. Rather, it's another example of the institution of major league baseball.

By the book, by the book.