| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | third base, you should seriously consider a bunt |
| Along with whether to remove a pitcher or leave | | | | down the third base line. Just try your best to |
| him in the game, this is one of the toughest | | | | make sure that the third baseman fields the bunt |
| decisions facing a manager. Read several very | | | | and not the pitcher or the catcher. |
| good baseball coaching tips on what you have to | | | | Let's say it's late in the game and you have a |
| consider that may very well help you make your | | | | man on second base with nobody out. If you |
| decision! | | | | have a right-handed hitter up who is a dead pull |
| There are many things to think about when | | | | hitter, you might strongly consider having him |
| deciding if a team should go for the big inning or | | | | bunt the runner to third base. He may very well |
| bunt and sacrifice an out to advance a runner | | | | hit a grounder on the left side of the infield which |
| with a sacrifice bunt. A lot of it depends on what | | | | would prevent the runner going to third base with |
| type of game it is and how late in the game it is. | | | | less than two outs. |
| A lot of it depends on the pitcher that your own | | | | If a batter has trouble against a particular |
| team has on the mound. If you have a pitcher | | | | pitcher. If your batter is a good hitter but has a |
| who is mowing them down," a one run lead | | | | terrible past performance against their pitcher, the |
| may be like a five run lead. With a real good | | | | bunt should be strongly considered. |
| pitcher, one run can be considered a big inning. If | | | | A tough call is should you sacrifice bunt if you are |
| you have a pitcher who has been struggling, | | | | the visiting team and are trailing by a run in the |
| playing for one run may not be in your best | | | | top of the last inning? (You may be thinking of |
| interest. The one run that either ties the game up | | | | sacrificing a runner from first to second base or |
| or puts your team ahead may not hold up. If you | | | | from second base to third base with no outs) |
| have a batter that's followed by two very weak | | | | One of many baseball coaching tips is that the |
| hitters, you might be better off having the player | | | | book" says you don't play for the tie on the |
| at bat not bunt, because of the weaker hitters | | | | road. Let's just hold on for a minute here. In my |
| that follow. | | | | opinion, I don't agree with the book" and I |
| Times You Should Consider Bunting: | | | | don't even know who wrote the book." |
| You can bunt at just about any time during a | | | | If my bullpen is superior to the other team's |
| game. A hitter should ALWAYS take a peek at | | | | bullpen, I would not hesitate to play for the tie, |
| the third baseman. I'm a big believer in taking | | | | even though I'm the visiting team. I would gladly |
| whatever is given to you on the ball field. If you | | | | take my chances late in a game that's all tied up |
| see a third baseman is playing seven steps behind | | | | if I have the stronger pen! |