High and Tight.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Joe Girardi: PLEASE STOP BUNTING

The situation: tie game, men on first and second, no outs. Johnny Damon (he of the 25 home runs and the poor bunting history) is at the plate.

Damon bunts: foul, strike one.
Damon bunts: foul, strike two.
Damon bunts!!!!!!: sacrifice

The runners move up, everyone congratulates Damon... and the Angels promptly walk Mark Texieria with first base open.

If it were Brett Gardner, Ramiro Pena, or say Jose Molina at the plate, OK, fine, sacrifice away. Damon has a shot to win the game there, and even a deep fly gets the man to third with one out.

The double-play will still be in effect because of course the Angels walk Tex.

Sometimes this year it seems Girardi has fallen in love with the bunt (especially with Jeter) but it's such a poor percentage play that he needs to knock it off.

Also it could be just me, but it seems they mostly bunt against the Angels and Rays, teams built on small/Ozzie/slap/speed-ball.

Labels: bunting, girardi is an idiot, joe girardi, johnny damon

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 4:38 PM 5 comments

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ATTN: Joe Girardi

PLEASE STOP BUNTING WITH GUYS WHO CAN WIN THE GAME WITH ONE SWING.

Stop giving away outs with 2 men on, no one out, and a 1-run deficit in the 9th. There was no reason for Swisher to be bunting. He's a guy that can hit the ball out of the park, or at least move Hairston to third on a sac fly. Plus the dude gets on base at a great clip (4th on the team amongst regulars behind Jeter, A-Rod and Tex).

Sure, maybe Swisher strikes out or hits into a double play there, but you have to try to win the game, and giving up free outs is not a good way to do it.

Update, 6:18PM PST: Swisher just came up with runners on first and second, nobody out, and hit a double to score the lead runner and move the other to third. That would have tied the game last night, and moved the runner.

Labels: bunting, girardi is an idiot, joe girardi, nick swisher

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:31 PM 2 comments