Gardenhire's Tigers win with walk off bunt

[Brandon]

I am just glad this didnt happen to us for all the times we blasted him for bunting.

 

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-tigers/2018/05/02/529868#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=529868

 

But i guess the shift is bringing back the bunt and making them valuable again.

[Mike Sixel]

Bunting for hits, or squeeze plays, are NOT bad. Sacrifice bunts early in games are. People complain about sacrifices.

 

That play was comical on defense. And it was a good bunt.

[wsnydes]

That was a comedy of errors defensively.  1B needs to call for it.  Pitcher needs to know where his 1B is and then stay out of the way.  Run may have scored anyway, but their lack of communication guaranteed it.

 

That being said, I love stuff like this.  Odd ways walk-off runs are scored are entertaining to me unless they're happening against the Twins.

[gunnarthor]

 

Bunting for hits, or squeeze plays, are NOT bad. Sacrifice bunts early in games are. People complain about sacrifices.

That play was comical on defense. And it was a good bunt.

Yeah, and Gardy didn't sacrifice all that much. From 02-10, the Twins were 21st in baseball in sac hits but 2nd in bunt hits. They bunted but they usually tried to bunt for hits. (those numbers are pretty similar to Molitor's numbers, as well).

 

Anyhow, fun little play.

[diehardtwinsfan]

honestly, if a heavy shift is on and there's an open side of the field, I would half expect to bunt that way and take the free single. I certainly would. It's effectively station to station, but it's a free hit, and it will eventually discourage those types of shifts if the player can lay down the bunt. 

[USAFChief]

 

honestly, if a heavy shift is on and there's an open side of the field, I would half expect to bunt that way and take the free single. I certainly would. It's effectively station to station, but it's a free hit, and it will eventually discourage those types of shifts if the player can lay down the bunt. 

I think Didi Gregorius has 3 singles that way in the last week or so.