Bunt the First Two (split from "Non-Shocking News)

[batmagadanleadoff]

You reminded me of the Dusty Baker bunting Dunn incident from earlier this season. Among recent managers, I'm convinced that Willie Randolph is the dumbest manager who's name isn't Dusty Baker. And then I just to got to wondering, fantasizing really, - no -- hallucinating -- about Dunn batting in the second hole for a WWSB lineup. That idiot would've turned even Dunn into a goddamn sac bunting robot.

[Frayed Knot]

Last night, Yanx-Pirates tied at 2 in the home 7th;
Pitt gets the leadoff guy on and the mgr (I assume it was called from the dugout) has Nate McLouth bunting - the All-Star rep, leadoff hitter with 52 XBHs going into last night Nate McLouth!

So after fouling off the first attempt they take it off ... and McLouth hammers it about 15 rows deep in the RF seats.
Game ended 4-2

[seawolf17]

John Russell trusted his guys and went with his gut.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Maybe the McLouth thing is just the new strategy: piss off a good power hitter by making him bunt in a big spot, then watch him launch one into the seats later in the AB. Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion already have walk-off homers this season through that method.

[Guest AG/DC]

I just wonder if there's something in the whole econmics of the thing that makes this happen. Does a manager last longer winnning some/losing some by the prevailing wisdom than winnning some/losing some by bucking it?

The funny thing is that the play Willie perhaps got the most criticism for was when he didn't bunt in the NLCS.

[Frayed Knot]

="AG/DC"]I just wonder if there's something in the whole econmics of the thing that makes this happen. Does a manager last longer winnning some/losing some by the prevailing wisdom than winnning some/losing some by bucking it?

I'm beginning to think it's a little like basketball where the coaches there are afraid that in high-scoring games they'll be thought of as 'roll the ball out there' do-nothings that they choke the hell out of the game instead.
I honestly think most of them would rather lose 71-68 than win 112-107 just so they won't lose face with the coaching fraternity and the media.

]The funny thing is that the play Willie perhaps got the most criticism for was when he didn't bunt in the NLCS.

I probably heard two complaints about Willie (and Torre, and Howe) bunting too little for every one I heard about bunting too much.

[Guest AG/DC]

You're spending way too much time out of the Pool.

[nymr83]

you must be listening to joe morgan and other such know-nothings too much. bunting sucks.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFY announcers speculated McLouth cleverly lulled Veras into serving him a fat one by tricking him into thinking a bunt was on. Anyway, I have a mancrush on McLouth.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: MFY announcers speculated McLouth cleverly lulled Veras into serving him a fat one by tricking him into thinking a bunt was on.

Didn't a Met supposedly do that to the MFY staff too?

So either the Yanx staff is particularly vunerable to this ruse or their announcers are convinced it's the only way anyone can take their guys downtown.