Archive

Why "unwritten" rules in baseball are dumb.

  • Manhattan Buckeye
    jmog wrote:
    Manhattan Buckeye wrote: "Did you actually read what I just read?"

    Yes, that is why I agreed 100% with it. Did you read what I wrote?

    Would it have helped instead of saying "Of course" I said "this"?
    My bad, I didn't see the "of course", it sounded like you were disagreeing with me.

    Honestly though, playing baseball through college, I don't think anyone adheres to the "rule" if the game is close/in question. Teams would only get mad if it was like 5 or 6 to 0 and someone pulled a bunt out to end a no-hitter.
    I think most would agree, but I recall a few years ago when Curt Schilling was with the D-Backs and he and then Coach Brenly went apeshit when someone broke up his no-hitter with the score 1-0 or 2-0 (I don't remember) with a bunt. And if my poor memory is correct, the bunting team almost won the game as a result, yet still the conversation was about whether the batter should have bunted.
  • jmog
    Manhattan Buckeye wrote:

    I think most would agree, but I recall a few years ago when Curt Schilling was with the D-Backs and he and then Coach Brenly went apeshit when someone broke up his no-hitter with the score 1-0 or 2-0 (I don't remember) with a bunt. And if my poor memory is correct, the bunting team almost won the game as a result, yet still the conversation was about whether the batter should have bunted.
    I remember that, and even as a Schilling fan, that was BS (him and the coach complaining).
  • darbypitcher22
    lhslep134 wrote: Let's see here.

    A bunt or a homerun in a game in which you're getting no-hit.

    Home run EVERY TIME. Why? Because the pitcher you're going up against has stuff good enough to retire everyone, so what is a bunt going to accomplish? More than likely you'd get stranded, whereas the homerun will not only rattle the pitcher, but give your team a run as well.

    Stupid OP.
    You obviously don't have a clue or have never played.

    As a former pitcher, you can be cruising along and one or two hits or baserunners can completely throw off your rythm and change the entire complexion of the game. The object of the game is to score runs, and most of the time, to score runs you need baserunners. A solo homer unless you're only down 1 or 2 does you no good.
  • said_aouita
    Glory Days wrote: depends on the score. 1-0 or 2-0, I dont see a problem with bunting in any inning.
    My thoughts exactly. At least get a guy on base. Change the momentum.
  • lhslep134
    darbypitcher22 wrote:
    lhslep134 wrote: Let's see here.

    A bunt or a homerun in a game in which you're getting no-hit.

    Home run EVERY TIME. Why? Because the pitcher you're going up against has stuff good enough to retire everyone, so what is a bunt going to accomplish? More than likely you'd get stranded, whereas the homerun will not only rattle the pitcher, but give your team a run as well.

    Stupid OP.
    You obviously don't have a clue or have never played.

    As a former pitcher, you can be cruising along and one or two hits or baserunners can completely throw off your rythm and change the entire complexion of the game. The object of the game is to score runs, and most of the time, to score runs you need baserunners. A solo homer unless you're only down 1 or 2 does you no good.
    Hm so a base hit can do good, but a solo homer down 4 does no good? Does a solo homer not rattle a pitcher more than a single? LOL at that logic....

    I pitched for eight years, the only times I ever got rattled were if someone smacked a ball off me. If someone got a base hit on a good pitch, kudos to the hitter. If the batter blooped in a single, then I'd chalk it up to bad luck.

    So if you're telling me that you personally get more rattled by a bunt single than a homerun, then you're not a very good pitcher, or have a very pathetic mindset towards pitching.
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    Just for the record, didn't the 'breach of etiquette' happen in the 5th freakin' inning?

    This is a debate because of what ? Would it have been ok in the 4th inning, or the 3rd inning? Does winning actually matter in baseball now?
  • darbypitcher22
    I'm not saying a solo homer isn't going to rattle anyone...You can give up solo homers and tip your hat and focus up like nothing happened. Its when you start having guys string singles together that produce runs that you can really see a guy become flappable
  • BRF
    Manhattan Buckeye: reading through this, I was thinking of the same game you mentioned. I'm on the side of bunting being OK. BTW, I think it was the catcher (Johnson) who bunted which helped to make them REALLY go nuts!
  • HitsRus
    Most of the 'unwritten rules' are about respect for the game and your fellow players. I've got no problem with any of those rules and certainly bunting in the 5th inning of a N0-NO is NOT a breach of those rules. That some people...even ball players themselves... misinterpret those rules, is less about the stupidity of the rule and more about the stupidity of who misinterpreted it. This rule is about respecting your opponents attempt at a great accomplishment by not trying to steal a cheap hit when it is of no importance to do so. If the game is in doubt, that is a completely different story.
  • hasbeen
    lhslep134 wrote:

    Hm so a base hit can do good, but a solo homer down 4 does no good? Does a solo homer not rattle a pitcher more than a single? LOL at that logic....

    I pitched for eight years, the only times I ever got rattled were if someone smacked a ball off me. If someone got a base hit on a good pitch, kudos to the hitter. If the batter blooped in a single, then I'd chalk it up to bad luck.

    So if you're telling me that you personally get more rattled by a bunt single than a homerun, then you're not a very good pitcher, or have a very pathetic mindset towards pitching.
    If you are down 4 runs in a no-no and you lead off with a solo home run, that means you are down 3 runs instead of 4 and you have nobody on base. Now it's up to the next guy to do something with the momentum.

    If you are down 4 runs in a no-no and you lead off with a bunt single now you have momentum and a runner on base to start putting pressure on the defense. A bunt single is a GREAT baseball play. Hands down.
  • Footwedge
    I have no problem with bunting for a hit down 12 zip in the top of the ninth. I do have a problem with stealing a bag up 12 in the top of the ninth though.

    How many times did Pete Rose extend his 44 game hitting streak by bunting in the ninth? At least twice. You want to stop it? Then defend it.
  • tk421
    Unwritten rules in baseball are stupid. Play to win the game. I don't care if someone is down 12 - 0 with the last out, if you can get on base with a bunt, do it. It's no one else's job to lay down and not try if some pitcher has a no hitter going.