Men UConn & 2024 Big East Baseball Tourney @Prasco Park, Mason Ohio (5/22>5/25). Gms on BEDN/FloSports. Audio on MIXLR, Fox Sports 97.9 & the Varsity App

[storrsroars]

Coaches stopped teaching it because it's bad baseball

The case for bunting as good baseball.

Bunting and the ghost runner: a causal inference approach

arxiv.org

That said, as this only applies to pro ball, there's really no need for college coaches to teach it, unless they've got some light hitting track stars on the squad.

 

[navery12]

The case for bunting as good baseball.

Bunting and the ghost runner: a causal inference approach

arxiv.org

That said, as this only applies to pro ball, there's really no need for college coaches to teach it, unless they've got some light hitting track stars on the squad.

Yeah that's one of the scenarios where it makes sense to bunt. Though I still think as a coach I'd prefer to teach situational hitting. I'd rather a ball hit to the right side with some % chance of sneaking through and winning the game over a bunt and giving up an out. But that's just personal preference

 

[businesslawyer]

That's asinine. Suggesting every HS kid moving to college should have mastered every fundamental is beyond moronic.

The kids still need to develop and yes it falls firmly on the college coaches to coach them up on their weaknesses.
And then it goes to minor league coached and major league coaches to keep teaching and refining those skills.

Asinine or moronic? I would think if you were attacking someone, you'd at least make up your mind as to the most appropriate adjective!!

 

[storrsroars]

Yeah that's one of the scenarios where it makes sense to bunt. Though I still think as a coach I'd prefer to teach situational hitting. I'd rather a ball hit to the right side with some % chance of sneaking through and winning the game over a bunt and giving up an out. But that's just personal preference

I do not have aggregate stats on this, but I'd argue that just like many hitters can't execute a bunt, neither can many hit oppo, as they're taught to pull for power. Obviously if you need more than one run, you hit away. But if only needing one, I'd go with my understanding of whether the batter I'm sending up can bunt or hit oppo before I make the call.

 

[Rdkid]

UConn bunts runners over all the time - in years when they collectively are crushing the ball or not. It is definitely part of their game when others (and the pros) don’t give up outs much anymore. I think the point was some fundamental small ball has been lacking this year - bunting, stolen bases (and getting picked off), hitting behind runners, deep at-bats and getting runners in w/ less than two outs. They work on this constantly, but the execution has not been there. Coaching staff will say it falls on them, but they definitely teach and reteach skills and expect 1-9 in the lineup to execute. My frustration is seeing a lower-third hitter trying to pull slider after slider and taking a seat after a 4-pitch strikeout - with runners on. It is hard to unteach hero ball. Not singling anyone out, just have seen more of this than I’m used to this year.

 

[huskymedic]