Sunday, July 27, 2008

Take the bunt sign off?

I've seen it professionally. I've seen it in college, high school, and below.

The bunt sign is given to the batter to begin the at bat. The pitcher throws a ball or two balls and the bunt sign is removed in favor of the batter now swinging away. Obviously, the count has changed in the batter's favor and the coach now believes it's more advantageous for the batter to swing away than give up an out.

When the batter was approaching the plate, the coach thought that the prudent play was to advance a runner. Is an advantage count now enough of an impetus to change his mind? It might be if the batter has the ability to drive the ball. It might be if the pitcher is very hittable. It might be if the batter has some speed(a ground ball might not be a double play ball anyway).

I'm of the opinion that in most cases the count should not change a coach's strategy. There are so many variables that go into deciding a bunt is in order. Too many times amateur hitters aren't disciplined enough to make these advantage counts pay off. They swing at a ball that might be ball 3 or they roll over or pop a ball up and the runner stands exactly where he stood prior to the at bat.

A disciplined hitter might make all the difference in the world but a 2-0 count is certainly a good count to bunt in. Allow him to execute the play that you had intended him to make all along.

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