Defend The Indefensible: THE SACRIFICE BUNT

agreed

Mickey Callaway twice wouldn't answer yes or no when asked if the call to bunt in the eighth inning came from the bench.

Asdrubal Cabrera clarified: "It was my call." Trying to get something going for a Mets offense that has scored two runs in 42 innings.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 6, 2018

the first thing a manager says every spring should be NO BUNTING WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-best-bunts-and-bunters-of-2019

Oh shit

Hal Steinbrenner said Aaron Boone believes bunting is becoming a bigger part of the game. So the expectation is that will increase.

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) November 7, 2023

If used sparingly and intelligently, I'm all for it. But, as I posted in the World Series thread, I thought Torey Lovullo really overplayed his hand two or three times, playing for one or two runs early in the game against the wrong team.

Nyy only have one (1) regular who can bunt for a hit

They might get Stanton to do it I guess. Is it IKF who can bunt?

Almost tempted to guess Judge, as absurd as that sounds, just because he does everything well.

I think that Jimmy and I are thinking they’ll get one of NYY’s non-hitters to do this, Judge prob would be but he won’t need to

Stanton can’t run so assuming he can get one down and not bail due to the face trauma he’s a double play candidate on a bunt.

IKF is a FA and likely not coming back unless he’s now a less good brett gardner

Four more years of Stanton's contract! Got to wonder on the plus/minus when the Yankees cut bait on him, as I cannot see that guy being worth a roster spot for that long.

I never liked that dude even when he was with the Marlins. I saw him lazy ole' a couple of plays in person at a game and thought he was a joke ever since. Of course he got his sh1t together for his contract season and had a great year at the plate and suckered the Yankees into signing him for like 20 years. Morons.

he was traded to NYY

We're off the bunt now--hope David R. from 2005 is okay with that--but I like Stanton, and feel bad for him over all the injuries. He looked like a good bet for 600+ HR coming off his MVP season.

Double-checked that: 28 years old, 267 HR. Not quite where Junior was at the same age (294), but close.

interesting to read back through this thread and see the Sabremetricians in the prime of their pomp, taking great chunks out of the hide of accepted baseball wisdom in real time. the rage! The righteousness!

I've probably forgotten someone, but I think the best bunter I ever saw was Rod Carew, who used to drag-bunt (guess) 20-30 hits a year. Weirdest bunt I ever saw was Otis Nixon's for the last out of the '92 Series. Don't think anyone expected it, but Timlin fielded it cleanly and got him at first.

My guess is inflated, but this does have him as the second-best ever by pct.:

https://www.parkspresidentsandparks.com/blog-page/2018/4/30/the-bunt#:~:text=Rod%20Carew%2C%20a%20career%20.,722%20rate.