Lost Arts The Bunt and the Stolen Base.
Watching the game on Sunday against the Astros, I saw Chris Taylor lay down a bunt that went for a hit. And it took me back to a time when the bunt was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with. Over the last several years, especially with the Dodgers, the only time you saw a bunt was when the pitcher came up and attempted to move the runner over. Maeda,
Watching the game on Sunday against the Astros, I saw Chris Taylor lay down a bunt that went for a hit. And it took me back to a time when the bunt was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with. Over the last several years, especially with the Dodgers, the only time you saw a bunt was when the pitcher came up and attempted to move the runner over. Maeda, and Kershaw were exceptionally good at that.
But bunting to get on base, or drive a runner in from third, well, that happened very rarely. I remember when I played, our coaches would make us make 3 bunts before we could swing the bat in batting practice. And they had to be good bunts too. Not foul balls.
And in the early years of my love of baseball, the bunt was a huge part of some players arsenal. Maury Wills, and Jr Gilliam were pretty good at it. The last Dodger I remember using it as an offensive weapon was Brett Butler. I always thought that Dee Gordon would have hit 20 points higher with that speed had he been a good bunter.
But baseball today has morphed into a game that is more about launch angle and exit velocity than finesse. Progress they call it. Seems to me they thought the same thing about cell phones. While handy, I hardly think they are progress. But that is just me. Video games and texting have taken the place of being outside in the fresh air hitting a ball.
But that is a rant for a different type of blog. Now the stolen base was also a huge weapon back then. In the early years of the game there were many prolific base stealers. Ty Cobb at that time was the best. He held the stolen base record at 96 from 1915 until Wills broke it with 104 in 1962. 47 years. Cobb ended with 897 steals. Over a 24 year career, that is an average of 48 a year. Some players do not reach that number in a season.
But prior to Cobb, there was a player named Billy Hamilton, who played for the KC Cowboys of the American Association, which in 1888 was a major league. He moved to the Phillies in 1890. Hamilton topped 100 steals 4 times. 1889, 90, 91 and 93. With a high of 111 in 1891. But he was not considered the record holder in the modern game. Hamilton ended with 914 bags over a 14 year career averaging 75 steals a year. WOW.
The top 5 are Rickey Henderson, 1406, Lou Brock, 938, Billy Hamilton, 914, Ty Cobb, 897, and Tim Raines, 808. Players who spent time with the Dodgers in the top 50 include, Max Carey, 738, not all as a Dodger, most of them with Pittsburgh, Otis Nixon, 620, Juan Pierre, 614, Maury Wills, 586, Brett Butler, 558, Davey Lopes, 557, Bill Dahlen, 548, Willie Keeler, 495, Carl Crawford, 480, Jimmy Shekard, 465. Quite a list.
As for the Dodgers all time leaders, they have 43 players who had over 100 steals in their Dodger years. Duke Snider just missed with 99. Of course Wills leads that group with 490 as a Dodger. Lopes is second with 418. Willie Davis is the only other Dodger over 300 with 335. Tom Daly, a 2B I honestly have never heard of is 4th with 298.
Steve Sax had 290, Pee Wee Reese who is # 10 had 232. Gilliam at # 12 with 203 which tied him with Zack Wheat. Best name on the list is # 18, Oyster Burns with 172, which is 2 more than Matt Kemp had as a Dodgers. Big difference is Burns only played in 820 games for Brooklyn, Matt played 1262 for the Dodgers.
The stolen base, and the bunt are two of the more exciting plays in baseball. And I for one wish they were used a lot more. I can easily remember the excitement in Dodger Stadium in 1962 when Maury was going for the record. Those go go go chants would start, and when he made it safely, the crowd would go crazy. Of course, as offensively challenged as they were in those years, the steal was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with.
As an example, Big D had gone ahead to the next city prior to his opening the series there. When told Koufax had thrown a no hitter, Drysdale, knowing how inept the hitters were asked, did he win?
I am a firm believer this skill should be taught more. The right combination of speed and knowledge of how to take better leads can be a real weapon. Speed is the one skill that cannot be taught. How to use that speed can.
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Discussion (119)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Oh man, that’s the Max Muncy I remember!! You got one week to wake up, dude, and then go on a tear!
I just started watching the game I was busy earlier. Can anyone fill me in on why it’s a bullpen game I thought May was supposed to start today?
Does anyone know when Pollock was hitting well in SF where in the batting order he was hitting?
Well, Kolarek not getting the job done today so far. Cmon, get this inning over already.
Can we win in the post season with Muncy and Belly this bad? At least Belly is a great defender but what in the world does Muncy bring to the table right now? I’d rather have Kike at first at this point!
Pollock or Smith would make more sense for batting cleanup. At work today listening to Jerry Steiner and Moe on the radio.
Call me old fashioned, but I thought that the clean-up hitter was supposed to be someone who can hit. The last two years, Muncy batting fourth, sure. This year, with the division on the line, WTF?
DODGERS RECALL IF/OF ZACH MCKINSTRY
DODGERS PLACE OF JOC PEDERSON ON FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LIST
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry and have placed outfielder Joc Pederson on the family medical emergency list.
McKinstry, 25, will be recalled for his second stint with the team and his next appearance will be his MLB debut. He split the 2019 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing six different positions and hitting .300 (129-for-430) with 24 doubles, 19 homers and 78 RBI. He finished the season with Oklahoma City and hit .382 (34-for-89) with seven homers and 26 RBI in 26 games. In his five minor league seasons in the Dodgers organization, he has hit a combined .270 (331-for-1226) with 30 homers and 149 RBI across five different levels. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Central Michigan University.
Pederson, 28, has played in 38 games this season, batting .178 (19-for-109) with six homers and 12 RBI. Last season, he batted .249 (112-for-450) with 36 homers and 74 RBI, setting career-highs in batting average, runs (83), hits, homers, RBI and OPS (.876). In parts of seven seasons with the Dodgers, he is a career .230 (492-for-2141) hitter with 129 homers and 299 RBI. The Northern California native was originally drafted in the 11th round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of Palo Alto High School.
Roberts must have a gut feeling about Muncy at third. I have one too. I’m more ok with Lux. I know that kid can hit. It’s just a matter of time. And not a lot of that left before the playoffs start.
Game time.
DODGERS RECALL RHP JOSH SBORZ
DODGERS PLACE LHP CALEB FERGUSON ON IL, ACTIVATE RHP JOE KELLY
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz and have placed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson on the injured list with a left elbow injury. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly has served his five-game suspension and will be activated for today’s game.
Sborz, 26, returns for his fourth stint with the club. He has made three appearances for the Dodgers in 2020, allowing one earned in 3.0 innings with two strikeouts. In parts of two seasons over 10 games, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP) and nine strikeouts. The former Virginia Cavalier went 24-20 with a 3.53 ERA (144 ER/367.1 IP) and 370 strikeouts in 157 minor league games (46 starts) for the Dodgers. He was originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft by the Dodgers.
Ferguson, 24, will be placed on the injured list for the first time this season and the second time in his career. In 21 games (one start), he posted a 2-1 record with a 2.89 ERA (6 ER/18.2 IP) and 27 strikeouts. He has been with the Dodgers parts of three seasons, going a combined 10-5 with a 3.93 ERA (49 ER/112.1 IP) and 140 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 38th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft and is 15-11 with a 2.73 ERA (81 ER/266.2 IP) in 77 minor league games (51 starts).
Kelly, 32, is active and will be able to play today after serving his suspension. The right-hander has appeared in seven games for the Dodgers this season, tossing 6.1 innings, allowing five hits with five walks and five strikeouts without allowing a run. He is in his second season with Los Angeles and is a combined 5-4 with a 4.06 ERA (26 ER/57.2 IP) and 67 strikeouts in 62 games. In his nine-year career, split between the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and Dodgers, he is a combined 48-29 with a 3.89 ERA (295 ERA/683.0 IP) and 565 strikeouts.
Great article at CBS.com about Will Smith. He’s in the “90/90 club” – he’s one of 7 guys in MLB to have average exit velocity over 90% and an in-zone contact rate over 90%.
Open on www.cbssports.comhttps://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/how-dodgers-will-smith-started-producing-like-a-star-in-shortened-2020-season/Ferguson on IL; Sborz called back up.
Joc on Family Emergency list; McKinstry called up.
Robert’s shenaniganology
Why Muncy 4? Why Lux y not Like? Bad line up
todays line up.
1 Betts RF
2 Seager SS
3.Turner DH
4. Muncy 3B worst fears realized
5. Smith C
6. Bellinger 1B
7. Pollock CF
8, Taylor LF
9. Lux 2B
P Graterol..opener.
Buehler is not with the team. He is not traveling to Colorado either. He has been pitching with a cover on his finger, and will stay in LA until the team gets home. Roberts said he will get a start prior to the end of the year.
Oki
Why May was taken out of mlb app to pitch today?
Roberts says Graterol will start but May will get some innings today. I can’t follow that logic but it wouldn’t be the first time Doc did something I couldn’t understand.
McKinstry will be joining the team today although no official move has been made yet. If he can get some at bats in during the next week and does well, I could see him replacing Lux or even Joc on the playoff roster.
I do find it interesting that it’s ZacMac and not Beaty but that’s probably because they aren’t convinced they want Lux on the post season roster and Beaty doesn’t play second base.
Matt Harvey looks done. He was placed on the IL today by the Royals. In 11 plus innings he gave up 15 runs. His fast ball average was up a little, but his control was way off. Manfred says the DH is most likely here to stay. Opposition in the NL has softened considerable. He also wants to keep the expanded playoff format beyond 2020. Another thing he thinks might be kept is the new extra innings rule, which I detest, but seem to be in the minority. He doubts the 7 inning double header will be kept though. And he is hoping that sometime down the road that MLB can expand to 32 teams, allowing and even number of teams in each league. Thus making scheduling easier.
Thanks Boys. We needed that last night. Some good comments today and a good post by Bear on use of the bunt and steal. I grew up with a dad who was a top-notch fastpitch pitcher. In that game, with dominate pitching, if you couldn’t bunt, you didn’t play. If someone got on it was automatic they got sacrificed to second.
Bunting takes quality practice and commitment. Commitment is the operative word here. Without it there is poor practice. Then poor execution. A Player’s hears has to be in it. Chicks don’t dig the bunt.
My teams made great use of the bunt as a weapon. We also set up a “bunting station” and made it competitive with a coach there supervising. A pitching machine was cranked up (no lob ball half ass practice) and things were taken seriously. Proper mechanics on how to bunt were taught and expected. Players now honestly don’t know how to bunt. I would frequently have a kid bunt with 2 strikes if their previous 2 bunt attempts were unsuccessful. I wouldn’t reward poor execution and let them swing away.
I have never understood how a hitter passes up a sure base hit against a shift, when baserunners are needed, when a bunt or slap it right there. I’m slowly seeing it a little more, like last night. I would eventually like to see it until teams stop shifting so much but I now doubt that will happen in my tenure.
Bear I’m more of a proponent of the “safety squeeze” versus the “suicide”. That play can’t be defended either if done right. And it’s by definition, safer. And I’d never hit and run anymore. Always a “run and hit” taking my chances running on a “ball” outside the zone making the catcher’s throw more difficult and runner stealing.
Badger, I too loved to “pop up” slide and was great at it. It did cost me several levels of skin on my knee. One of the reasons it’s taught less, like a “take-out slide” is because if used during a double play, it’s illegal. If the runner pops up into a fielder while he’s making the turn, both runners are out. So, it’s not taught much too youngsters. Another skill that’s gone away.
Some thoughts on last night:
* No kidding that Quinn Walcott was horrible behind the dish. You could roll it up there and get a strike.
* Awesome to see JT back. Let’s keep him at DH and Rios (by default) at 3rd. No Muncy please at 3rd.
* I wish Fergie well. Didn’t look good.
* Glad KJ got it done. Sadly my trust was not enhanced. He was 1 pitch away from a tie game or worse. I’m still lobbying for closer by committee.
* Joe Davis made a statement during the broadcast last night that I hope was inaccurate or a misquote. He said that “Doc thinks that the series starting next week with 3 games with the A’s and 3 with the Angels as the time to “ramp up” to get the best guys ready for the post season.” I hope he didn’t really say that and doesn’t think that. Why not start that yesterday (I liked that line up a lot with the exception of Joc). Play your best guys every game, STARTING NOW. No more try -outs. No more Mookie at 2nd. No more platooning with Pollock and Joc. No more Lux at 2nd. Put CT3 there and leave him. These games and Colorado matter! Don’t turn on the switch with 6 games left, please.
* Speaking of Joe Davis, I would bet that he never played anything at a competitive level. Last night he was verbally moping around and whining that KJ must be feeling terrible about loading the bases. Oh woe is us. Suck it up in the booth too and talk about competing and getting out of the jam instead whimpering about it. Grow a pair.
* A win today would be awesome. Every win is big one from here on.
Conflicting stories: Alana saying May will start. David Vasseigh saying May scratched, and Graterol will start
William, you say we only have one good reliever from the left side if we don’t have Ferguson, but both McGee and Victor Gonzalez have pitched very well. Not that Fergie won’t be missed. Does anyone know if he’s had a TJ surgery in his past?
The fact that most of us are so enamored with the bunt just proves one thing………………….we’re all old! 🙂
If teams like the Pads use it successfully on a regular basis, the whole league will start copying them. We can only hope.
Great article Bear! I used to love watching a well executed drag bunt. That definitely seems to be a lost art in today’s game. It appears to that the change in philosophy regarding the bunt and stolen base, might also stem from the fact that many of the modern player simply don’t seem to know how to execute a proper bunt or know how to get a lead and jump for the steal. Watching some pitchers try to sacrifice is very painful in their lack of ability to lay down a proper bunt.
Thanks for the reminder of the pop-up slide Badger. That was something we had to master when I played. We would spend hours of practicing in the “sliding pit” to learn how to properly do it. Other than the “strawberries” you would regularly get on the back of your thigh and buttocks, I don’t remember any player getting a serious injury as a result of sliding.
SD got two men on base in a row by bunting, and we got one. That is a good argument for the value of the surprise bunt, as long as players can execute it. I can’t say that I was ever a big fan of 1980’s “small ball,” but playing for homeruns gets tiresome, and a mixture would be fun to watch.
The almost certain loss of Ferguson for the rest of the year took some of the gratification away from the crucial win. Ferguson had mostly pitched very well this year, and I had though at times that perhaps he would make our best closer. Now we are stuck with Jansen,,as they can’t pitch him in any other spot,because he is not mentally adapted to it, so they couldn’t really use him at all if he were not the closer; and we don’t have enough quality relievers to get through the grind of the playoffs, unless we use him. i really don’t know how we are going to replace Ferguson in a bullpen sequence, but we are going to have to. I am not looking forward to seeing Kelly again, but maybe he somehow will regain his form of 2018. Can you imagine Kelly and Jansen both being used to protect a one-run lead? We really now only have one good reliever from the left side, and that is Kolarek, who rarely faces more than three batters. Well, maybe our starters can start going seven innings or more, like last night, because if we get those five innings starts, our bullpen is going to really have problems as the playoffs progress. Injuries are part of the game, it always is said, but this one was particularly unfortunate, and of course we feel really bad for Ferguson, who knew right away that he could not throw another pitch.