For as long as I can remember, I have been asking the same question to my television over and over again.
Can you please bunt against the shift?
There has to be a logical explanation as to why teams or players refuse to bunt against the shift.
Teams have had scouts and starting pitchers who aren’t pitching, charting where every player hits every ball in every at bat. Information like this is readily available these days. You don’t have to go searching across three continents and pay Dr. Jones to explore the Temple Of Doom.
As a general rule, left-handed power hitters all do the same thing. They either hit ground balls up the middle or to the right side, and spray fly balls everywhere in the outfield.
Ever since these tendencies have been recorded, opposing managers shift their infield defense in such a way that the third baseman moves over to where the shortstop plays, the shortstop is almost directly behind the second base bag, the second baseman moves out into shallow right field (where Daniel Murphy owns a vacation home), and the first baseman stays at first.
So again, I’m going to ask that question. Can you PLEASE bunt against the shift?
In 2013 the New York Mets had a team on base percentage of .306. Good for 26th in major league baseball. It should also come as no surprise that the Mets were also 23rd in MLB in runs scored.
I’m sure that most of you realize that the more times you are on base, the greater chance you have to score a run.
Crazy concept, right?
So when Ike Davis, who was hitting like .187 with a .260 OBP at the time in mid-May, strolled up to the plate to lead off the 7th inning with the Mets down one and the shift was on against him, WHY ISN’T HE BUNTING FOR AN EASY DOUBLE?!?!?
I asked my television, in a manner that was not very polite, the same thing when Lucas Duda came to the plate in the same type of situation a few games later. Lucas actually hit a rocket line drive in this at bat, but it was directly to the second baseman who was playing 75 feet farther back then he normally does. You know, right into that thing called “the shift”.
Is it an ego thing? Is it because ball players have to take the same approach all the time because they are robots? Or is it because it’s a macho thing? “Pfft, I’m not gonna let some shift beat me. I’ll just mash it thought that shit”.
It’s probably a combination of all three, but it literally makes no sense. When a catcher sticks his arm out for an intentional walk, you don’t see players diving across the plate to try to hit the ball. They take the free base.
Because you know, it’s free. The same with the shift.
If one of the “laziest” players in MLB can do it, why can’t fringe MLB players do it? Wouldn’t you want to get on base anyway you possibly can, to help your team and show your manager that you are a team player?
Even Big Freakin’ Papi does it!
Would you expect anything less from the “grissioniest” guy on the A’s?
You can see in this video back from 1974 that the shift was used against Willie McCovey. So this is nothing new.
Oh look…It’s Big Papi doing it again!
As you could see, we have actual recorded moving pictures of two probable HOF players dropping bunts to get on base. Because the defense gave it to them. That’s right. A free base. What a novel concept.
If you or someone you love has been afflicted with PBUTS (Please Bunt Against The Shift) Rage, pass this article along to them.
Or if you care about your beloved New York Mets, tweet @Iked29 with the link.
This could save his or another players career.
