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Bunting and the Importance

I for years am a classic American League fan. I like the pace of the game and as controversial as the designated hitter may be, I like it. The DH adds an element to the game the National League does not have and not just a hitter for the pitcher. The DH leaves out a hole in the lineup. As with in the National League the pitcher has to hit for himself and 90% of the time the pitcher will fail and look foolish doing so. The DH, on the other hand, makes for a complete lineup and strategy of substituting becomes more minimal and the use of bunting is almost nil.

Bunting is a critical part of the game particularly at the lower levels meaning college and below. The art of bunting is something in so many coaches eyes is a simple task, however try and catch a ball coming at you +85Mph with possible movement with a 34 inch round bat.

Things get a little more complicated and for the most part one can do it consistently or not. Let's start with the set up and just a sacrifice bunt right now.

Adjust your placement in the box to the front side and crowd the plate. Your back foot should be on the line.
From a normal batting stance we pivot the feet towards the pitcher. Your back foot will touch the line while your front foot is slightly open. Initially both toes will be facing the pitcher. Chest should be nearly square with the pitcher.
Open the front foot slightly. This allows us to be more mobile and gain more control on what we want to do with the ball. (Do not open your stance like little league coaches tell you to.)
Bend the knees! To adjust to the height of the ball we use our knees and bend from there not from our back.
Hand Placement on Bat
Hands are not together, whoever taught or still teaches that you need to re think what you are doing. The hands do not go together the are fully separated. When hand are together players tend to wrap both hands around the bat, enabling a situation where both hand become vulnerable.
Right hand will be right around the label. Left hand should be about a fists to a fist and half length up the bat from the knob.
When squaring for the bunt. Bat should be slightly off level. The know a notch lower than the barrel. We want to kill the ball movement having a bat that is more vertical than horizontal can enable spin allowing for the ball to roll more.
With our bat slightly less that parallel with the ground we raise the bat to just under eye level. We want to be able to look down the barrel of the bat. This will help decrease the foul ball that can come back at ones face.

Catch the ball with the barrel. Don't poke, punch, stab anything to the extent in which you approach the ball. We catch the ball with the ball. Give it a place to land.

Ideally we want the pitcher to field the ball. Don't get me wrong though we do not want the put back at the pitcher. We want it to the point where it is too far for the catcher and the corner guys to come get and if they do they should have to make an off balance through. Although most defenses know a situation like this will appear we need to be sure to still make them run to the ball. Pitchers tend to rush their throws more that is why we want it back at them. I hate to take advantage of them but, actually i love taking advantage of pitchers.

The most ideal spot for a bunt is hugging a line about ten feet out from the plate. Doesn't matter which line I am not particular because down any line will be a good bunt and will be difficult to defend against.

If your fast and don't know how to bunt you better be very good at many other things on the field to get into my lineup. If you are an average player you better know how to bunt because if you don't have power or anything else to hold you over, you are truly average. Guys that can bun throw a whole new element into the mix when creating and developing lineups. Guys at the top and the bottom should know how to bunt and do it well. The guys in the middle have the other stuff that is why they are there. Speed scares people and when bunting is thrown into the mix it makes them even more hesitant. Bunting consistency and power throughout the lineup make for a devastating mix, through some speed and contact in there and more often that not you will have yourself many runs and generally find yourself ahead of the people across the field.

Hit and Run

I continue to analyze the game and its ins and outs. I realize some things not I have not been able to see before. I am starting to notice details to the game that drive me crazy when I lay my head down at night. I am beginning to dream about situations on the field.I am beginning to really dislike the hit and run play. I think a straight steal is sufficient enough given the right count and situation. The hit or protection swing also needs to be in the hands of a guy who has great bat control, smart, and fast. Great bat control, not only with the hit and run do you have to put the ball in play you have to get the ball down or hit the ball really far. The chances of doubling up increase and can be an inning kill indefinitely. Which brings me to the smart aspect. Give the hit and run: The base runner has to get a jump, peek in to see where the ball is being is, check the coach, slide, stand, round, a multi tide of reaction plays are thought of and needed to be played upon. Finding just the base runner to think about all those is far and few. The hitter: Needs to be to able to read the jump of the runner, if the base runner is able to steal the bag cleanly, why hit? He needs to be able to put the pitch it play ideally to the right side. Some say this is a good time to move a slower runner over, well if the right play makers are on, sure it may be beneficial. On the other hand you have a guy that is average bat control and just average overall the chances are slimmer for the play to be effective. Give the guy with average bat control a chance to barrel something up as there is a better chance.All in all the hit and run is overused and a play that will get team's momentum and squash it.