Bunting A Baseball
What is a 'bunt' in baseball?
A bunt is a very strategic play in baseball where the hitter actually comes to the plate, usually for one or two purposes. One is that he's trying to give himself up, so to speak, and make an out, but he wants to get the runner from first to second, or the runner from first and second to second and third. Strategically, the way you want to bunt as far as from a technical point of view is to “deaden” the ball. When the ball is coming at you very fast, if your hands are rigid and tight, the ball's going to bounce too far to one of the position players. You would ideally like it to go toward the third base line or the first base line, because that's the furthest spot from the pitcher, catcher, third baseman, or first baseman to get the ball. It gives you the best chance to get to first base safely.
When is it advisable to bunt in a baseball game?
The most advisable times to bunt during a game, is usually when you desperately need a run, and you are trying to move a player that's already on 1st base, or 2nd base into scoring position. A secondary time to bunt is to strategically get yourself on a base, again when you're in a position that you need to score a run. Lastly, if you're in a position where again maybe you are down a run, you can do what is called a suicide bunt. At that point the runner from 3rd just breaks home and you are just trying to bunt the ball in play, so those are some of the strategic times to bunt.
What is the proper technique for bunting in baseball?
The proper technique for bunting in baseball is to turn your back foot and your front foot in a way that your chest is facing the pitcher. That allows you to see the ball well. The idea is that you don't mind making an out. You want to see the ball well. It's called giving yourself up. In terms of the hands on the bat, if you're right handed, you hold the bat with your left hand and your normal spot. The right hand gets toward the sweet part of the bat, just barely above the level of the bat so that your hand behind the bat is protected from getting hit. You don't want to grab the bat because you can break a finger, so you anchor the bat from behind so that your hand is protected. The bat also should be slightly angled, and the barrel should be a little higher than the bottom part of the bat. Then when the ball comes, as you receive it it's like catching a ball - you want to deaden the ball a little bit, so pull on the back slightly.
What is a 'sacrifice bunt' in baseball?
A sacrifice bunt is when as a hitter your job is to sacrifice yourself. Meaning it is okay if you get out. You're an easy out at first base. The idea is you still bunt the ball in a place where the runner on first can get to second, or the runner on second can get to third. And so again as a sacrifice you're simply saying its okay if I make an out, and that you're sacrificing yourself.
What is a 'squeeze play' in baseball?
A squeeze play in baseball is a very exciting play. What happens is, the runner on third base is trying to score home, and it's the element of surprise, so he really doesn't leave third base until the pitcher is kind of making his way toward the plate in his windup. As a hitter, your job is one of two things. One is to put the ball in play anywhere if it's a suicide squeeze, meaning that the runner is coming at you no matter what. Then you're just putting the ball in play. If you're doing what's called a safety squeeze, the idea to that is you're actually positioning the ball in a place where it's difficult for the pitcher to get to or the catcher to get to and then the runner on third base actually reads it and then he'll make his decision whether or not he's coming home. So there's two kinds of squeezes.
What is a 'suicide squeeze' play in baseball?
Suicide squeeze is when a hitter is saying, "Okay, the runner's coming from third base. As soon as the pitcher gets into his wind up, I have one job to do. I've got to find a way put the ball in play anywhere. I don't have to be strategic, or specific. I just make contact, and make sure the ball goes into fair territory. The runner at third will score because he's breaking as soon as the pitcher is moving toward me with the ball."
