Twins 2020

Absolutely! He’s been spinning that 80mph breaking ball right into the sweet zone for right handers.

Why does the home team not bunt the guy over to third in extra innings. Seems like such an advantage to do so.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Why does the home team not bunt the guy over to third in extra innings. Seems like such an advantage to do so.

Because the analytics nerds say it doesn’t work. I was going nuts that they weren’t bunting. And what happened when they finally got a productive out moving the runner to third with one out? They won…..Imagine that. Could’ve been done three innings earlier if they bunted. I’m not saying that’s the first thing they should do in extras, but when you’ve failed to even get the runner to third after 3 tries, maybe try a bunt for God sakes.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Anyone remember who we traded to get Maeda? Yeah, me either…..

Brusdar Graterol who pumps 100 with nasty offspeed and is having a decent season in the Dodgers Pen. I didn’t like the trade at the time, and Maeda has certainly over achieved his previous track record but we won’t know who won that trade for a few more years.

He might hit 100 for another year or two. He certainly wasn’t hitting it consistently during games when he was here either. And none of it matters if you don’t locate which he doesn’t. Not to mention tommy john is about a year away for him. I’ll take a quality starter over a slightly above average relief pitcher any day of the week.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Because the analytics nerds say it doesn’t work.

Thats because theres math supporting the case that it doesnt work as often as simply swinging away like they normally would. Why is that so difficult to grasp?

Every situation is different. Is Sano or Buxton up next behind the sac bunt? Or Arraez? Polanco? Who is pitching? Josh Hader or Matt Belisle? Every situation is different. Game is too complicated now to do the same thing in every situation.

Or maybe they just like to make it mor complicated. It’s still throw ball hit ball catch ball.
Analytics say sacrificing an out is not the right thing to do. There is no analytics as of yet that starts and inning with a guy on second and no outs and first run scores wins. It is definitely and advantage to the home team if they are able to not give up a run in the top half of an inning.

I was thinking the same thing about the bunting in extra innings. The twins laid down a couple beauties the last handfull of games and got the guys to do it but for whatever reason never tried. I figured they were going to blow it after the crew tied it. Bullpen did a nice job, except for Rogers. That Alcalala looks alright if he can control his offspeed pitches, got some heat. So far they are getting some good pitching this year. If the offense can catch up, they actually might end that 16 game post season loosing streak. Also, Braun sucks with out the Juice.

Ripjiggen wrote:

It is definitely and advantage to the home team if they are able to not give up a run in the top half of an inning.

#analytics

From 2010-2015 run expectancy decreased by 15% when a team sac bunted a runner from 2nd to 3rd with nobody out vs. swinging away with no outs and a runner on 2nd. So for every 10 games they bunt in that situation, the team scores 1.5 less runs. This is assuming the sac bunt is successful, which is far from an assumption. Especially now with way more strikeouts than there were even 5-10 years ago, sac bunting is a dying art because its stupid. Not because “nerds” want the game to be more complicated

tbro16 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
It is definitely and advantage to the home team if they are able to not give up a run in the top half of an inning.

#analytics

From 2010-2015 run expectancy decreased by 15% when a team sac bunted a runner from 2nd to 3rd with nobody out vs. swinging away with no outs and a runner on 2nd. So for every 10 games they bunt in that situation, the team scores 1.5 less runs. This is assuming the sac bunt is successful, which is far from an assumption. Especially now with way more strikeouts than there were even 5-10 years ago, sac bunting is a dying art because its stupid. Not because “nerds” want the game to be more complicated

And there’s your flaw. This situation isn’t about run total. It’s about scoring ONE RUN to end the game. If you read my post, I even said I don’t think it needs to be a bunt every time in extra innings. But after swinging away and failing for three innings maybe bunt the GD guy over the third. Sac bunting is a dying art because no one in the majors knows how to freaking bunt anymore, and it “doesn’t work” because analytics have turned hitters into HR or K batters. They can’t/refuse to do any strategic or situational hitting. It’s garbage. Case in point, you have a shift on where NO ONE is on the right side of the field yet the batter doesn’t have the skill or mental capacity to hit the ball where the whole team is. Another tragic downturn caused by analytics.

Ripjiggen hit the nail on the head. Making the game more complicated that it ever should be.

Sorry Tbro, nothing personal here but your number was called because of the topic.

I think this discussion on bunting is interesting, and I see some validity on the arguments on both sides.

Did the Brewers bunt at all in the extra innings?

Isn’t it kind of funny that the Twins won on swing that resulted in basically a hard bunt?

New year, new thread, same predictable disagreements

I’ll stop with the numbers. I’ll let the advanced scouting departments of billion $ organizations continue to figure out which is the smarter move to make. I’ll also let the middle aged men on a fishing forum judge them on their decision. Agree with whoever you’d like

mahtofire14 wrote:

Sac bunting is a dying art because no one in the majors knows how to freaking bunt anymore

So lets start when the game is on the line and the game winning run is in scoring position? Great idea!

ok now I’m done

tbro16 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Sac bunting is a dying art because no one in the majors knows how to freaking bunt anymore

So lets start when the game is on the line and the game winning run is in scoring position? Great idea!

ok now I’m done

Uh yeah. Unless you want to see 18 innings games. Case in point the winning run was moved to third on a ground ball to the right side. Could’ve done that three innings ago. I get that it’s all situational and I agree in some situations it doesn’t make sense. But hell look at our team. 2 safety squeeze bunts in two nights? AND they worked? Just saying, bunt the guy over, then safety squeeze game over.

I’m sure you’ll really love that one Tbro.

And I couldn’t care less how much money they’re wasting on analytics. Look at all the money we waste on politics every year. Look where that’s gotten us. Oops. I said the P word.

tbro16 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Sac bunting is a dying art because no one in the majors knows how to freaking bunt anymore

So lets start when the game is on the line and the game winning run is in scoring position? Great idea!

ok now I’m done

You are right I will stop debating with a child. I wasn’t the one who came up with the rule. You can blame that on the millennials that complain the game is to long.

Anyway back to the discussion with the rest of the middle aged men on here. I would not bunt if I were the visiting team except if the extra innings carried on and you were maybe going to run into trouble with your bullpen numbers. I think as a home team going into the bottom of an inning it would be a huge advantage as you are only looking to get that one run. The shift that was deployed when the guy got to third. They brought in a outfielder and put him at third. You now have two chances to basically put the ball in play. Virtually anything to the outfield is going to score that player with two outfielders. In the right scenario fast player at third just a ball in play will more than likely get you the win.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Anyway back to the discussion with the rest of the middle aged men on here.

Crap. I am getting pretty close to that……

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
Anyway back to the discussion with the rest of the middle aged men on here.

Crap. I am getting pretty close to that……

Ok back to discussion with the rest of the adults. Does that make you feel better

Ripjiggen wrote:

You are right I will stop debating with a child. I wasn’t the one who came up with the rule. You can blame that on the millennials that complain the game is to long.

Ok, boomer

Try to not get so offended over the bunt vs no bunt debate next time. Didnt realize it was a such a personal topic for you!

Not offended Bro. Not a boomer either. Good try though. Just discussing baseball tactics with some people of like minds.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Just saying, bunt the guy over, then safety squeeze game over.

X2

You can blame the loss of the no hitter on me. I started watching in the 9th inning.

Netguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Just saying, bunt the guy over, then safety squeeze game over.

X2

You can blame the loss of the no hitter on me. I started watching in the 9th inning.

While I joke around that Dick Bremer is to blame Polanco really should’ve been able to catch that ball. Took a horrible route and jumped early. Would’ve been a nice play but it’s one a good shortstop makes fairly routinely.

Lets not forget that Buxton is the ONLY Twin and likely the only player in baseball that beats that throw.

Softball at it’s finest.

Is it me or does Hill look like he’s in pain out there. Hoping I’m wrong. I wouldn’t be surprised if he throws 6 innings of shutout ball even if his back was killing him though. The guy is a freaking bulldog.

Another double by Sano

Well in the last 5 years he’s spent more time on the DL then a hooker has on her back so there is that I suppose.

I need to see the analytic that has a .172 hitter batting 5th. But it worked so it must be legit.

Hill looks terrible

Yeah. Pretty rusty.

On a side note, Rosario cashed in on his nightly god awful throw which almost went over the backstop.

Like the old country song ” Wasn’t there long enough for my arm to get loose.”

Well all is right with the world again. Buxton on the IL with shoulder inflammation. You can’t make this up.

I’m not even going to put this one on Buxton though. I honestly think Baldelli will put anyone with a hangnail on the injured list. They have to have one of the highest rates of players going on the IL and longest average time spent on it. So frustrating.

can’t they make up an injury to that Thorpe dude? just brutal to watch