Bunt for Hit

[Bluenoser]

Just curious - anyone use this successfully, or seen the AI use it?

Have never tried it myself, but it kind of popped into my head after I saw a player with 7 (2-8 ratings) for "Bunt for Hit"

I don't think it's possible to find out through stats if he ever tired it, so thought I'd throw the question out here.

[Painmantle]

Used it yes and been successful, seen it from the AI? not that I recall, but I probably haven't paid enough attention to notice if it did. I do know that a LHB has an increased chance of success compared to a RHB

[endgame]

I have seen the AI use it and I have noticed my manager utilize it occasionally. It does not happen often and in those cases, I wish I could say it always made sense, i.e. expecting and finding that the batter was rated highly at the skill.

[EvilGenius]

I had a player once who was at best a .250 hitter, but could bunt his way pretty close to .300

Just watch the defensive ratings of the infield. I don't bunt unless there's a defensive liability on the field. You get a lot of errors on bunt plays if it's fielded by the deficient player (who can be involved in the play in several ways depending on how the play develops).

It can also be effective if the opposing pitcher is just having one of those days and you just can't hit him.

But bunting is like stealing bases. Don't do it unless the player is REALLY good at it. Since at best you will only get one base out of it, the lack of slugging percentage (and by extension OPS) can be a detriment with overuse.

There's actually reasons you don't see it all that often in the real world (reasons that have nothing to do with "players just don't learn fundamentals anymore"). Bunting is really only a viable strategy when there just aren't any better options.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Painmantle

Used it yes and been successful, seen it from the AI? not that I recall, but I probably haven't paid enough attention to notice if it did. I do know that a LHB has an increased chance of success compared to a RHB

Is that just in OOTP or irl also? Never really pay much attention to it since it's a rarely used strategy anyway.

The only times I can think of irl are rare, I think Juan Pierre used to try it sometimes leading off a game, and Otis Nixon used to do it occasionally back in the early 90's when he was with the Braves.

[Simmo13]

I've used it with on occasion in my "deadball-era" fictional league....the AI certainly employs it, on one occasion with a bunt single, steal of second AND third, then scoring on a flyball! Ever since I've definitely paid a bit more attention to opponents "bunt for hit" ratings.

[pgjocki]

I was watching the Reds and Nationals play game 7 of the divisional series this evening and came across this little gem:

[injury log]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

I
The only times I can think of irl are rare, I think Juan Pierre used to try it sometimes leading off a game, and Otis Nixon used to do it occasionally back in the early 90's when he was with the Braves.

There's been a lot more bunting for hits than that, even in recent years. I thought this article was really interesting:

The Best Bunter of All-Time - Beyond the Box Score

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by injury log

There's been a lot more bunting for hits than that, even in recent years. I thought this article was really interesting:

The Best Bunter of All-Time - Beyond the Box Score

Thanks for the link, great read. Was definitely surprised by the bit about the "Mick". Also was surprised to see Garvey's name up there. Never thought of either of those two as bunters.

[rpriske]

I just had the AI bunt for a hit in a game last night.

[ihatenames]

Had the AI use it against me last night. As for my own team I use it fairly frequently. My leadoff hitter is rated a 10 on it (1-10) scale. And I use it to decent success depending on the defenders ratings.

[Carlton]

Originally Posted by injury log

There's been a lot more bunting for hits than that, even in recent years. I thought this article was really interesting:

The Best Bunter of All-Time - Beyond the Box Score

Blasingame was a great bunt for hit man?

I never knew, all I knew was he could bunt and rarely got into Dp's

I knew Rizzuto was the best bunter of his time, but not that Blasingame took over that role

Will have to update his wikipedia


Anyway

Since I play deadball to 60's I see it often on the few times I watch a World Series Key game