OnlyBucs

So, with the Twins up in the 9th 7-0 they employ the shift against the Orioles. The player bunts against the shift and gets on base. The Orioles load the bases in the inning but do not end up scoring. After the game several Twins were upset with the bunt. I have absolutely ZERO issue with bunting. Are the Orioles supposed to give up? Should they swing at balls just to get the game over? If they are giving you a free base by employing the shift, why shouldn't the player take it? This actually really ticks me off and I am surprised that they would go public with this criticism while employing the shift. Should there be an unwritten rule that the shift shouldn't be used in the 9th inning with a 7 run lead?



Sorry for the Monday rant. Go Bucs, beat the Twins.

7F777463757579160 wrote: So, with the Twins up in the 9th 7-0 they employ the shift against the Orioles.  The player bunts against the shift and gets on base.  The Orioles load the bases in the inning but do not end up scoring.  After the game several Twins were upset with the bunt.  I have absolutely ZERO issue with bunting.  Are the Orioles supposed to give up?  Should they swing at balls just to get the game over?  If they are giving you a free base by employing the shift, why shouldn't the player take it?  This actually really ticks me off and I am surprised that they would go public with this criticism while employing the shift.  Should there be an unwritten rule that the shift shouldn't be used in the 9th inning with a 7 run lead? 



Sorry for the Monday rant.  Go Bucs, beat the Twins.   


I completely agree. You can't get a 7 run HR. You need baserunners. I would expect every player on an opposing team to bunt or take a pepper swing in that situation to get on base. It's a no brainer.

575F5C4B5D5D513E0 wrote: So, with the Twins up in the 9th 7-0 they employ the shift against the Orioles.  The player bunts against the shift and gets on base.  The Orioles load the bases in the inning but do not end up scoring.  After the game several Twins were upset with the bunt.  I have absolutely ZERO issue with bunting.  Are the Orioles supposed to give up?  Should they swing at balls just to get the game over?  If they are giving you a free base by employing the shift, why shouldn't the player take it?  This actually really ticks me off and I am surprised that they would go public with this criticism while employing the shift.  Should there be an unwritten rule that the shift shouldn't be used in the 9th inning with a 7 run lead? 



Sorry for the Monday rant.  Go Bucs, beat the Twins.   


Agree, I bet the Twins batters don't always swing for the fences.

i agree with this, bunt all day in that circumstance, but what i dont like is when a team bunts to break up a no hitter. next one gets into someones ear if that happens.

71666B6F6F6B616931020 wrote: i agree with this, bunt all day in that circumstance, but what i dont like is when a team bunts to break up a no hitter.  next one gets into someones ear if that happens.
I have no problem with bunting to break up a no-hitter. If a guy bunts in the 2nd inning, it's ok. But if the game is still a no-hitter in the 8th or 9th, it's not ok. Batters have an obligation to try to reach base. If a pitcher is too tough to hit, maybe a bunt will work best. If a defense will give you a hit via a shift, take the hit.

796E636767636961390A0 wrote: i agree with this, bunt all day in that circumstance, but what i dont like is when a team bunts to break up a no hitter.  next one gets into someones ear if that happens.


I mostly agree but if they have a shift on to make it more difficult to get a hit to one area of the field, I don't have a huge problem, even in a no hit scenario, saying, "I'll take what they are giving me." If my team is down 4 nothing, leading off the ninth with a no-hitter going, I would want my player bunting against a shift to get on and try to win.

7B6C616565616B633B080 wrote: i agree with this, bunt all day in that circumstance, but what i dont like is when a team bunts to break up a no hitter.  next one gets into someones ear if that happens.


I agree regarding the Twins attitude regarding bunting against the shift. If you expect your opponent to simply play into your strategy you're a fool with an entitlement delusion.



As for bunting to breakup a no hitter I'm inclined to agree that it's bad etiquette late in a ballgame unless there are less than 2 outs,the previous batter has walked and it's still a one run game.



In today's game bunting for a base hit has become less common, but back in the day when Matty Alou played for the Pirates it seemed like he'd attempt to bunt for a base hit at least once per game. If he did it late in a game against a pitcher who was throwing a no-no I doubt if anyone would have taken umbridge simply because anytime Matty was at the plate the opposing team needed to expect it and defend accordingly.