Should Dusty have asked Edwin to bunt?

[RFS62]

A simple poll. Should Dusty have asked Edwin to bunt tonight?

[WMR]

HELL NO.

Anyone who says yes, PLEASE explain your reasoning.

[reds44]

No.

[WVRedsFan]

Two ways to look at this.

I say no, because I know Encarnacion is capable of doing what he did. I also know that he has a good bat. BUT...

Dusty has no idea who he's dealing with yet (though some would say he exhibits this behavior no matter where he is) and watching Edwin this spring and in the first 1.8 games of the year, you might want to not take a chance with him. He's been a walking mistake thus far.

Yeah, it was still a boneheaded decision,but I think I can understand it in this situation.

[Matt700wlw]

No.

Maybe he knows that now.

[WMR]

No.

Maybe he knows that now.

If he wasn't smart enough to know it before, I'm inclined to doubt that he knows it now.

[Matt700wlw]

If he wasn't smart enough to know it before, I'm inclined to doubt that he knows it now.

Well, we can hope

[WMR]

Well, we can hope

Believe me, I am!!

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Nope.

[KronoRed]

No, giving away outs down by 2 is a bad plan.

[RedlegJake]

No. If the manager really wanted a sac in that sitch he should have pinch hit for a guy with bunting skills. Problem with that is you take the bat out of the hands of one of the legit HR hitters in your lineup, give away the first out so 'Boom Boom' Bako can win the game for you? Or failing that the deadly PH Mustachio Man? Actually it's a darn good thing EE can't bunt to save his life or the homerun would never have happend and the Reds would likely have lost the game. Wonder if Dusty scorches him for failing to get the job done?

[RFS62]

I voted "no". But a wacky thought came to me. What if Dusty is in a way "calling out" the entire team by calling for that bunt? What if he's announcing that we're going to bunt any time I think we should, and you all had better improve your technique if you don't want to be humiliated.

I know that's a reach, but is it possible that there's any truth to it?

[Stormy]

I voted "no". But a wacky thought came to me. What if Dusty is in a way "calling out" the entire team by calling for that bunt? What if he's announcing that we're going to bunt any time I think we should, and you all had better improve your technique if you don't want to be humiliated.

I know that's a reach, but is it possible that there's any truth to it?

Not even a chance, in my opinion. Calling for the bunt in that situation is simply Dusty Baker Baseball 101, and there's reams of precedent to consult. The worst part is not even the fact that he asked one of our best RISP hitters, who has a well documented history of not being able to bunt, to bunt anyway, in a game where we were in a 2 run deficit. The worst part is that Dusty will learn nothing from seeing the diametric opposite of his strategy win the game for us, and will be calling for the same bunt again next go round.

I don't even care, because Dusty is going to be Dusty... I'm just thrilled for Edwin, and for the team.

[gonelong]

I voted "no". But a wacky thought came to me. What if Dusty is in a way "calling out" the entire team by calling for that bunt? What if he's announcing that we're going to bunt any time I think we should, and you all had better improve your technique if you don't want to be humiliated.

I know that's a reach, but is it possible that there's any truth to it?

I am sure this will suprise you, but I was thinking the exact same thing last night. The question is, will Dusty continue to do this, likely to the short-term detriment of the team?

If Dusty was purely asking Encarnacion to bunt as a solitary in-game decision it was about as poor a decision as one can make IMO.

GL

[RFS62]

I voted "no". But a wacky thought came to me. What if Dusty is in a way "calling out" the entire team by calling for that bunt? What if he's announcing that we're going to bunt any time I think we should, and you all had better improve your technique if you don't want to be humiliated.

I know that's a reach, but is it possible that there's any truth to it?

Not even a chance, in my opinion. Calling for the bunt in that situation is simply Dusty Baker Baseball 101, and there's reams of precedent to consult. The worst part is not even the fact that he asked one of our best RISP hitters, who has a well documented history of not being able to bunt, to bunt anyway, in a game where we were in a 2 run deficit. The worst part is that Dusty will learn nothing from seeing the diametric opposite of his strategy win the game for us, and will be calling for the same bunt again next go round.

I don't even care, because Dusty is going to be Dusty... I'm just thrilled for Edwin, and for the team.

I think that failure and embarassment is good for a player with great potential. I'm happy to lose a game but win a great hitter. It's a challenge-- "I never want to be asked to bunt again"

and he might not.

I am sure this will suprise you, but I was thinking the exact same thing last night. The question is, will Dusty continue to do this, likely to the short-term detriment of the team?

If Dusty was purely asking Encarnacion to bunt as a solitary in-game decision it was about as poor a decision as one can make IMO.

GL

After hearing Dusty in the pre-game interview, I'm more convinced than ever that he actually is announcing that we will bunt any time he thinks it's appropriate, no matter who is at the plate.

Marty asked him about it, referencing how few times he'd bunted before in his pro career. Dusty said (paraphrasing) "He practices bunting every day. So do all the players. I expect any of them to be able to bunt. We all bunted when I played for the Dodgers".

It left no doubt in my mind that he expects these guys to be able to put it on the ground when he calls for it.

Whether this is a good idea or not, well, it's up for discussion.

This isn't about the philosophical discussion over the bunt as a tool. This is about each player being able to produce one when called upon. It's a basic baseball skill that they really do practice every day in batting practice. I'd imagine a few of them might be taking it a little more seriously after this.