It’s funny how calling for a sacrifice bunt receives the same reactions as a Scary movie. Imagine a combination of eyes rolling back into their heads, facial contortions evolving into a look as if they smell something awful. The creative ones take a more tactical approach by acting dumb. Rolling their hand asking for the sign again and again as if the more they asked, the likelihood it would go away.
Now I do prefer kids to swing the bat, but a sacrifice bunt does have a role in baseball. Even though it appears to go against the art of hitting, there are times sacrificing an at-bat makes sense in an effort to score one more run than the opposing team [e.g., moving a runner into scoring position or a safety or suicide squeeze]. When you consider the numerous ways a player can get themselves out, not to mention striking out, I am sure you agree there are times a sacrifice makes sense.
Maybe it’s the word sacrifice no one likes?
C’mon, when done right it does not affect your batting average, so, don’t be“skerd! View sacrifice bunting as good for you, and good for your team.
Was that a sigh of relief I just heard?
Until next Blog,
Al McCormick
