The Lost Art of First Inning Bunting

by user Dmarine40

(from MetsLifer.com)

Jose Reyes did something in last night's New York Mets' win that I hadn't seen in a while. He bunted on the first pitch for a base hit.

What a concept! We have the fastest man in the league batting leadoff so why not bunt in the 1st inning every once in a while. Sure Reyes has some pop, but I like the idea of getting him on in the 1st inning. Then let him steal second, third, and why not home?

Just like the New York Giants need to throw to Jeremy Shockey early to get him psyched and the team's energy pumping, the Mets need that Reyes spark early.

The results last night were pretty evident. The Mets scored early, often and the stage was set for a good game.

Let's hope we can see some more of this in the next few games to hopefully get this team on a different kind of streak.

Awrigh01All-Star

889 days ago

Score 1

Reyes hits, the Mets win. Plain and simple.

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RomiezzoLegend

889 days ago

Score 1

I remember in the 2002 All-Star Game (I believe) when Ichiro did it on the first pitch as well. It IS actually exciting to see it on the first pitch. I got a friend of mine that does it a lot, and is as fast as a friggin lightning bolt and is a tremendous bunter. He gets on base every single time, and every single game, at the very start, the infield plays in normal depth, so why not bunt? Reyes is one of the fastest guys in the league. What he did was a great way to pump up his teammates,like you said, and is a good idea because he can steal, and can run bases really well..

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Niteowl049AAA-er

889 days ago

Score 0

Defense isn't expecting a bunt on first play of game so why not try it more ofen...great topic for a post DMarine...very thought provoking.

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

889 days ago

Score 1

Interesting topic. Maybe MLB should show more recognition for guys that succeed in situational batting - such as bunting and sacrifice flies? These fundamentals win games just as equally as homeruns.

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RomiezzoLegend

889 days ago

Score 0

That's actually a good point right there. In a pitching duel, it usually ends up not with a home run or two, but sacs and smart baseball. Good point Tyrone. And in my opinion, home runs are overrated sometimes, but I don't want to go too deep into that...

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

889 days ago

Score 0

I love the idea - it's like in cricket where you just block the ball into a gap in the field and steal a run before the fielders get to the ball.

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PeanMajor Leaguer

889 days ago

Score 0

i'll take your word Alex!

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

889 days ago

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Watch here... The batsman just hits the ball slowly along the ground straight to the fielder at mid-on (as the position is called). No chance of a run out, but an easy single... I imagine Reyes just dropped the ball into a gap in the infield, rather like the batsman in the video, and ran straight to 1B in the same way the batsman ran to the other end.

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TehLokiVarsity Captain

889 days ago

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The Indians and Phils just did that in their past series. Sizemore did it in game 1, Rollins in game 2. Both got on base.

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WizardmanRed-Shirting

889 days ago

Score 2

Exactly. Certainly in the dead ball era they probably did that all the time. Plus in the late 80's-early 90's I wouldn't be surprised if Rickey Henderson was a regular there. But yeah, I saw Sizemore do one, they work a lot better when they're not all that common, catches the opposition off guard.

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CWY2190Waterboy

889 days ago

Score 0

Luis Castillo just hits a 50 foot chopper off the plate and gets on. He don't need no stinkin' bunt.

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