To Sac or Not Sac?
I just completed my 20th season of high school baseball. Have spent many an hour talking sac bunt or not with 2 awesome head coaches of our program.
My late Papa was an Earl Weaver type - don't give up outs, hit the 3 run homer.
My late Dad was a fundamentals, get the bunt down, do your job, man.
I know we beat the 3-time defending state champion in the state tournament, eliminating them from the post-season, on a walk-off suicide squeeze bunt by our freshman third baseman (that happened to lead our district in hitting his freshman year and just graduated and will be playing at Middle Tennessee State next season) that he was able to get down against a future MLB draftee who went on the play at Tennessee and had allowed 0 runs and only 3 hits as their closer that season throwing 90+ mph.
He was able to do that because we emphasize bunting. We win games because we can bunt. Bunting puts balls in play in sometimes uncomfortable positions for the defense. Look at the Mets-Cards extra innings game the other day. One inning, Mets get 1st and 2nd no outs and don't bunt. They don't score. Next time they get in that situation, they do bunt and pitcher has trouble handing it and doesn't even get an out. Mets go on to score and hang on and win the game.
One argument:
Explaining Why the Bunt Is Foolish in Today's MLB | Bleacher Report
Cardinals are studying it:
Cardinals Insider: Cards are learning if bunt has benefits : Sports
I realize high school ball is not pro ball. But I watch my Cubs and wish Maddon would bunt every now and then. Strikes, popups and weak fly outs are bad baseball. Double-play ground balls really kill rallies. If you are winning 10-8 then bunting isn't really needed.. When you are constantly losing 3-1 or 2-0 perhaps a couple of bunts may have made a difference?