Pitchers Bunting

[endgame]

Why are pitchers bunting almost exclusively under AI control in situations like 1 out and a man on third? Wouldn't you think they'd give him a swing away option so at least he might have a change at a Sac Fly? I don't see any logic to the bunt.

[Curtis]

Uhm… In that situation, I'd sure bunt. If the pitcher was a lousy bunter, I'd pinch-hit in someone who was good at it, then have HIM bunt. (Of course, all of this is game-situation dependent.)

You've gotta figure that bunting has a 75%+ chance of bringing the runner in, where hoping for a hit, error or sac fly would probably be around half of that. I'd feel pretty stupid if I let my pitcher swing away in a situation like that and he struck out.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Curtis

Uhm… In that situation, I'd sure bunt. If the pitcher was a lousy bunter, I'd pinch-hit in someone who was good at it, then have HIM bunt. (Of course, all of this is game-situation dependent.)

You've gotta figure that bunting has a 75%+ chance of bringing the runner in, where hoping for a hit, error or sac fly would probably be around half of that. I'd feel pretty stupid if I let my pitcher swing away in a situation like that and he struck out.

I can see some logic from your vantage point, but on the other hand I just can't sell myself on the idea that you can move a man to home from third with anywhere near the ease (or probability) you can from first to second or from second to third with the bunt. Now I may be wrong here, but IMO the odds are it'll result in a put-out at first and the runner on third holds, real life OR OOTP. And your PH option? Great, if it were used more often. But it isn't. The pitcher's bunt seems to be the rule, not the exception even with quality hitters (read that better than the P) on the bench.

[Curtis]

Hmm. Well, you do have a point there. I suppose bunts with men on third would have to be directed up the first base line, which makes them harder. And harder yet for left-handed batters.