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The Merits of the Bunt
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<blockquote data-quote="FredJacket" data-source="post: 306958" data-attributes="member: 2843"><p>Below is Tech's 8th inning in our win Saturday at Va Tech. The good news is.... we won the game & now I can present a small (just one) case study on the exact topic of this thread. ...and since we won, I can do so with joy in my heart and a smile, rather than angst and dread and the firm knowledge we're helpless. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> ...it is a very fine line.</p><p></p><p>In case you missed it, here was the situation entering the 8th inning with our 6th, 7th, & 8th hitters due up. Ga Tech held a 6-3 lead with 2 innings remaining. We were getting into that territory discussed earlier regarding bunting decisions where we have an idea how many runs we need to WIN the game. Based on the game prior with Va Tech, it IS indeed hard to really know. </p><p></p><p>[Disclaimer: I did not see this action; but was listening to Wiley and Nick on WREK live]</p><p>Needless to say, as the top of the 8th progressed I thought of [USER=3179]@Lagrangejacket[/USER] and others who've weighed in here. I don't mean to pick on Lagrange... but your handle is so easy for me to remember. As an irresponsible GT undergrad back in the day, I had a little road trip to Lagrange, GA. One of those nights I don't really remember; but will NEVER forget. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite15" alt=":censored:" title="Censored :censored:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":censored:" /></p><p></p><p>Murray leads off with a BUNT hit.</p><p>Wilhite follows that with a BUNT single. Based on radio description, it's hard to know; but must assume this was designed to be a SAC bunt... but Wilhite laid it in a perfect spot.</p><p>[1st and 2nd NO outs]</p><p>McCann squares a few times (for a SAC bunt). Takes a couple for balls and fouls a couple (failed execution#1). Ultimately, with no strikes to play with and McCann forced to swing away... he flies out to RF. Murray tags to 3rd. So... double play is still in play; but got the runner to 3rd with less than 2 outs.</p><p>[1st and 3rd - 1 out]</p><p>Peurifoy bunts in what is described by Wiley and Nick as a safety squeeze (not a suicide squeeze). I did not catch how the defense was aligned; but I'll assume the middle infield was at DP depth and the corners were in to keep runner at 3rd. This squeeze did not work. Pitcher fields ball and makes play to catcher getting Murray trying to score from 3rd (failed execution #2). Nick placed blame here on the runner. He described it as a failure to get a good lead AND walking/running lead.</p><p>[1st and 2nd - 2 outs]</p><p>Bailey grounds out (FC) 6-4 as Peurifoy is forced out at 2nd.</p><p></p><p>Summarizing. 3-run lead...just needed to get some insurance runs. Got a couple of hits with balls never leaving the infield. Bunted or attempted to bunt with each of the bottom 4 hitters in our lineup. Failed to execute the "plan" at least twice in this sequence and the FINAL result was no runs in an inning we had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Not good.</p><p></p><p>My opinion on this... Wilhite's attempted SAC turned into a hit. Not sure I like call to bunt there, but sometimes you get lucky (base hit) in spite of a bad decision to bunt. Once you have runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs with a 3-run lead that late in the game, sacrificing them over seems like a very reasonable thing to do. I do take issue with the safety squeeze. Take your chances that Peurifoy can lift a ball for a sac fly OR hit it to a spot that will avoid DP and score the runner from 3rd that way. I have no numbers to back up that... but it feels like the swing away odds would be higher than the safety squeeze deal.</p><p></p><p>Of note... this is at least the 2nd time this season (Oklahoma) we've failed to execute a safety squeeze and runner was thrown out at home. I did see the OU play, and give OU credit for a perfectly executed defensive play. Ironically.... we won both games.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FredJacket, post: 306958, member: 2843"] Below is Tech's 8th inning in our win Saturday at Va Tech. The good news is.... we won the game & now I can present a small (just one) case study on the exact topic of this thread. ...and since we won, I can do so with joy in my heart and a smile, rather than angst and dread and the firm knowledge we're helpless. :) ...it is a very fine line. In case you missed it, here was the situation entering the 8th inning with our 6th, 7th, & 8th hitters due up. Ga Tech held a 6-3 lead with 2 innings remaining. We were getting into that territory discussed earlier regarding bunting decisions where we have an idea how many runs we need to WIN the game. Based on the game prior with Va Tech, it IS indeed hard to really know. [Disclaimer: I did not see this action; but was listening to Wiley and Nick on WREK live] Needless to say, as the top of the 8th progressed I thought of [USER=3179]@Lagrangejacket[/USER] and others who've weighed in here. I don't mean to pick on Lagrange... but your handle is so easy for me to remember. As an irresponsible GT undergrad back in the day, I had a little road trip to Lagrange, GA. One of those nights I don't really remember; but will NEVER forget. :censored: Murray leads off with a BUNT hit. Wilhite follows that with a BUNT single. Based on radio description, it's hard to know; but must assume this was designed to be a SAC bunt... but Wilhite laid it in a perfect spot. [1st and 2nd NO outs] McCann squares a few times (for a SAC bunt). Takes a couple for balls and fouls a couple (failed execution#1). Ultimately, with no strikes to play with and McCann forced to swing away... he flies out to RF. Murray tags to 3rd. So... double play is still in play; but got the runner to 3rd with less than 2 outs. [1st and 3rd - 1 out] Peurifoy bunts in what is described by Wiley and Nick as a safety squeeze (not a suicide squeeze). I did not catch how the defense was aligned; but I'll assume the middle infield was at DP depth and the corners were in to keep runner at 3rd. This squeeze did not work. Pitcher fields ball and makes play to catcher getting Murray trying to score from 3rd (failed execution #2). Nick placed blame here on the runner. He described it as a failure to get a good lead AND walking/running lead. [1st and 2nd - 2 outs] Bailey grounds out (FC) 6-4 as Peurifoy is forced out at 2nd. Summarizing. 3-run lead...just needed to get some insurance runs. Got a couple of hits with balls never leaving the infield. Bunted or attempted to bunt with each of the bottom 4 hitters in our lineup. Failed to execute the "plan" at least twice in this sequence and the FINAL result was no runs in an inning we had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Not good. My opinion on this... Wilhite's attempted SAC turned into a hit. Not sure I like call to bunt there, but sometimes you get lucky (base hit) in spite of a bad decision to bunt. Once you have runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs with a 3-run lead that late in the game, sacrificing them over seems like a very reasonable thing to do. I do take issue with the safety squeeze. Take your chances that Peurifoy can lift a ball for a sac fly OR hit it to a spot that will avoid DP and score the runner from 3rd that way. I have no numbers to back up that... but it feels like the swing away odds would be higher than the safety squeeze deal. Of note... this is at least the 2nd time this season (Oklahoma) we've failed to execute a safety squeeze and runner was thrown out at home. I did see the OU play, and give OU credit for a perfectly executed defensive play. Ironically.... we won both games. [/QUOTE]
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