Bunting Presentation The value of bunting Bunting advances

Bunting Presentation

The value of bunting • Bunting advances runners • Bunting scores runners • Bunting in practice leads to successful hitting through tracking. • Puts pressure on the defense • Shows up everyday • Develops team make up

Changes Defensive Positioning

Forces Defensive Pressure • • Forces the defense to react Makes players throw the ball from awkward angles Puts pressure on individual players Allows you to “pick on” weak defensive players

Gets runners on base

Outcomes for bunts from best to worst • Force an error (multiple bases) • • Beat out the throw to 1 st Make an out but advance the runner Lead runner gets thrown out Double Play

Reasons for unsuccessful bunts • • FAILURE TO COMMIT Me first attitude Poor Mechanics Does not understand the situation Player does not know or observe the strike zone Too quick out of the box Lack of concentration

• • • Bunting Technique Upper Body Bat comes over shoulder Elbows are in and point to ground Hand position (Halves, Thirds • • • Bottom hand stays on the grip Top hand at or near balance point Bat Position (Parallel) in front of thigh, flat at top of zone

Lower Body Mechanics • Base needs to be balanced and wide • Batter box location (BH, Fake, Squeeze) • Be in a position to have complete plate coverage • Back heel on ground

Timing • • Sac Bunt - Early (Break of the hands) Bunt for hit - Late (Foot strike)

Bunt for hit • Goal: Pressure on defense, get runners on base • • • Mechanics: Drop step point bat at 1 B Timing: Simultaneous Strides, contact on drop Step Box Location: Regular location in batter’s box / may cheat toward plate Bunt must get past pitcher • • Can increase batting average Notes: Make the bunt perfect (fault = fair or foul) Situations: Defense has a slow 3 B, 3 B is not very athletic or has a weak arm, 1 B stays home, P falls off the side of the mound opposite)

Bunt Zones • Zone 1 - Full arm zone • • Zone 2 - Hurry zone • • Second Sacrifice bunt Zone 3 - Shuffle Zone • • First sacrifice bunt or bunt for hit 2 Second Sacrifice bunt (not at the pitcher) or push past pitcher for hit Zone 4 - Flip/Dart throw zone • Second sacrifice bunt or safety squeeze 1 3 4

Safety Squeeze • • • Runner at 3 B takes normal secondary lead Batter squares to bunt between hand break and foot strike Batter bunts the ball toward the 1 st baseman Runner breaks for home when the ball is down The batter does not have to bun the ball