Yeah, that's right, fuck you Bick.
Last night, McCarver went straight Moneyball logic. No shit. The scene: no outs, Eric Bruntlett on 2nd (running for Pat the Bat), and Shane Victorino at bat. Victorino squares to bunt, and McCarver, dissing conventional wisdom, channels Billy Beane/Bill James and says that Victorino should not bunt, because of who was batting behind him (Feliz and some other shit-ass...Ruiz, maybe). Regardless, McCarver actully took a progressive point of view! Huzzah!
I mean, how awful is it to watch your favorite team bunt a runner to second and then watch the fuckholes behind him whiff and pop out? It's like running a perfect fast break, only you leave the ball for the trailer, who turns out to be Beau Zach Smith. Hey, you did everything you were supposed to do.
I've been all for bunting; sometimes it's effective. However, it's insane to give away outs. Victorino ended up grounding out to the right side, moving the runner and allowing himself the opportunity for a knock. Feliz then singled, which would have score Bruntlett from second anyway.
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3 comments:
Beau Zach would've crammed that shit.
dubs
Your logic is somewhat flawed. When looking at the end product, he ostensibly DID bunt. A bunt accomplishes the same thing as a ground out, and you could tell with the swing he (Victorino) put on the ball with two strikes that all he was trying to do was move the runner. I'm with you on some of that Moneyball logic, but in that situation, when you probably need only 1 run to win the World Series, bunt the guy over, draw in the infield, and shoot the ball through.
Bick
Meh. If you're Victorino, and you can (as you suggest) ground out to the right side whenever you won't, why even try to bunt? At least with a ground ball there's a chance it squirts into the outfield.
Whatever. Make the Rays bullpen get you out. Victorino is a tough out, but all they needed was one run...so...I dunno.
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