God, I love small ball

[Heelium1]

I enjoy small ball. Question though... in what type of baseball is getting ahead and staying ahead not the proper objective?

The league in which the manager decides, rather than moving a runner, and playing for one run, just one more trip through the batting order will yield that 3-run homer to clinch the game because, "statistically," that's the right way to play it.

In other words, the magical thinking league, in which hitters are all powerful. I'm surprised you have not heard of it. It once was widely promoted on TV.

 

[Heelium1]

Some want to play for the big inning, and that is fine. "Kill Shots" are pretty indicative of who will win the game. If I have a team like GT does, no way I am playing small ball, unless it is to beat a shift.

Or, maybe, to beat a team like Carolina with pitching perceived to be much better than my own.

 

[UNC76]

If I was coaching I’d call a bunt down the 3rd baseline every time the opposing third baseman lined up at shortstop in a shift. Even if the first attempt doesn’t work, it forces the opposing manager to move the third baseman!

The problem with that is the extreme shift often doesn't happen until the batter has 2 strikes. In that scenario, even 1 failed bunt attempt results in an out.

 

[UNC76]

lol 76 you put almost everything I post in quotes

I tend to quote you when you are wrong, which is fairly often.

 

[110northstreet]

The league in which the manager decides, rather than moving a runner, and playing for one run, just one more trip through the batting order will yield that 3-run homer to clinch the game because, "statistically," that's the right way to play it.

In other words, the magical thinking league, in which hitters are all powerful. I'm surprised you have not heard of it. It once was widely promoted on TV.

I still think the objective is always to score more runs than your opponenent. The objective is always to "get ahead and stay ahead." Some just differ on how to accomplish the objective, IMO.

 

[Heelacious2315]

It is great to see bunting again.

 

[Heelium1]

I still think the objective is always to score more runs than your opponenent. The objective is always to "get ahead and stay ahead." Some just differ on how to accomplish the objective, IMO.

Sorry, but you have changed the stated objective.

I said that it should be to "get ahead and to stay ahead."

That means, if you're playing away, and it's a scoreless game in the top of the 4th, and your first batter reaches, unless he's a tank or a hopeless base runner, you play small ball. To GET AHEAD.

It does not mean waiting around--happy not to be behind--hoping for "Mighty Casey" to come through with the long ball because that's what the statistical crystal ball says. And that's true even though all of the current "Gurus" are riding that bus ('er Uber).

That approach is lazy, passive baloney. In baseball, a team needs to build its own momentum from every tiny stroke of good fortune. "Good fortune" can mean as little as a batter reaching against a formidable pitcher, by walk, HBP, error or whatever.

Seize the day with that good fortune--to put pressure on the pitcher and the defense--score a run (or more) as a result, and don't take your foot off the gas.

It is great to see bunting again.