Can't bunt up 2-0 in 5th inning...

[Eagles_Ball]

with 2 outs against a shift??? Somebody tell me what I'm missing here.

Colby makes dude mad

 

[3Rfan]

Maybe next time he can send a line shot back up the middle and ask him if liked that better. How ridiculous this one is!

 

[MOpossum]

That's one way to out smart the shift.

 

[dtowner]

It should be pointed out that Lewis was not complaining about running up the score. He complained that because Rasmus bunted with two outs and never attempted to get into scoring position, that he was bunting for average instead of trying to score a run. Bunting for a single with two outs and no one on has long been considered a bad play because it still takes two hits to score you. I think more players will do this, if nothing else then to try to get teams out of a shift. Smart play? Maybe not, but not a breach of etiquette to me.

 

[3Rfan]

Any way to get on base is a good idea. It's up to the guys behind you to their job and get on too. If the defense employs a shift against all of them then they should keep bunting until the run does score. A pitcher complaining about that is a joke.

 

[hb1025]

Don't see any problem with this

 

[The Rumor]

Originally posted by dtowner:
It should be pointed out that Lewis was not complaining about running up the score. He complained that because Rasmus bunted with two outs and never attempted to get into scoring position, that he was bunting for average instead of trying to score a run. Bunting for a single with two outs and no one on has long been considered a bad play because it still takes two hits to score you. I think more players will do this, if nothing else then to try to get teams out of a shift. Smart play? Maybe not, but not a breach of etiquette to me.

This is silly. It's 2-0 in the fifth. He's playing to help his team win. Their chance of scoring a run went up when he reached first.

If a team shifting gives you a pretty good chance to bunt your way to first, you'd better be bunting more.

If you're going to shift, he can do whatever he wants at the plate to take advantage of that.

The only excuse for Rasmus to not bunt is that Lewis has an ERA over 6, so everyone should be swinging away against him.

 

[The Rumor]

Originally posted by 3Rfan:
Any way to get on base is a good idea. It's up to the guys behind you to their job and get on too. If the defense employs a shift against all of them then they should keep bunting until the run does score. A pitcher complaining about that is a joke.

It's one thing if the score is 8-0 in the ninth, I get being a little ticked off then (although why would you be shifting in that case).

It's another in a 2-0 game in the fifth against a hitter with a not fantastic OBP.

 

[Duck_walk]

Either Lewis isn't very bright or he feels stupid now for expressing his frustration.