Comments on: The Jeter Bunt http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/ A Rough Draft Blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:45:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: SABR Baby « http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-93068 SABR Baby « Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:08:26 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-93068 [...] of conventional wisdom.  Just for a couple of sports-related examples: it has been shown that sacrifice bunting is most often a bad idea, going for it on 4th down is often a good idea, and striking out really [...] [...] of conventional wisdom.  Just for a couple of sports-related examples: it has been shown that sacrifice bunting is most often a bad idea, going for it on 4th down is often a good idea, and striking out really [...]

]]> By: Josh http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-87652 Josh Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:15:06 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-87652 @Glenn et al Cameron only said that bunting on the first or second strike was not a bad decision. He agreed that the third bunt was a mistake. @Glenn et al

Cameron only said that bunting on the first or second strike was not a bad decision. He agreed that the third bunt was a mistake.

]]> By: Tim http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-85217 Tim Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:03:56 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-85217 Good analysis on Jeter, and I think it applies to a lot of other players. For instance, Varitek's role on the Red Sox hasn't declined because he's lost his intangible leadership qualities. It's because he can't hit. And I'm a huge Chase Utley fan and absolutely love the heads-up plays he makes that no one else seems to think of. But it wouldn't amount to nearly as much if he couldn't hit like nobody's business (though I think he's slowly turning his defense into a real asset as well). Then you're anti-Jeter in this case is Eckstein, whom some people love for his "heart" and "hustle." It's true that the guy plays hard, which is respectable, but it doesn't nearly make up for his lack of overall talent, which is why any team would kill for a Derek Jeter, but Eckstein bounces around the league. Good analysis on Jeter, and I think it applies to a lot of other players. For instance, Varitek’s role on the Red Sox hasn’t declined because he’s lost his intangible leadership qualities. It’s because he can’t hit. And I’m a huge Chase Utley fan and absolutely love the heads-up plays he makes that no one else seems to think of. But it wouldn’t amount to nearly as much if he couldn’t hit like nobody’s business (though I think he’s slowly turning his defense into a real asset as well). Then you’re anti-Jeter in this case is Eckstein, whom some people love for his “heart” and “hustle.” It’s true that the guy plays hard, which is respectable, but it doesn’t nearly make up for his lack of overall talent, which is why any team would kill for a Derek Jeter, but Eckstein bounces around the league.

]]> By: Buchholz Surfer http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84964 Buchholz Surfer Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:36:36 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84964 I get annoyed when people think of all bunts as intentional sacrifices. Bunting for a base hit is very different than a sacrifice. It's something that isn't done enough anymore, even in these OBP times. Jeter was definitely bunting for a hit with 2 strikes. If it was fair and down the third baseline, it would've been a hit. With the third baseman moving way back with two strikes, his odds of getting a hit there by bunting are probably quite a bit higher than his odds of reaching base by swinging away. I say this as a Jeter disliker and avid Yankee hater. What's stupid isn't Jeter bunting, it's that so many current players not being able to bunt, so that third basemen are able to get away with moving deeper with two strikes on a little shrimp of a hitter. If David Ortiz learned to bunt the ball down the third baseline with any regularity, he'd be able to bunt for a hit 80% of the time against that shift, and they would be forced to take the shift off. Instead, he just keep hacking away and losing hit after hit to the shift. I get annoyed when people think of all bunts as intentional sacrifices. Bunting for a base hit is very different than a sacrifice. It’s something that isn’t done enough anymore, even in these OBP times.

Jeter was definitely bunting for a hit with 2 strikes. If it was fair and down the third baseline, it would’ve been a hit. With the third baseman moving way back with two strikes, his odds of getting a hit there by bunting are probably quite a bit higher than his odds of reaching base by swinging away.

I say this as a Jeter disliker and avid Yankee hater.

What’s stupid isn’t Jeter bunting, it’s that so many current players not being able to bunt, so that third basemen are able to get away with moving deeper with two strikes on a little shrimp of a hitter.

If David Ortiz learned to bunt the ball down the third baseline with any regularity, he’d be able to bunt for a hit 80% of the time against that shift, and they would be forced to take the shift off. Instead, he just keep hacking away and losing hit after hit to the shift.

]]> By: TJMac http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84790 TJMac Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:46:56 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84790 Come on Joe -- breaking down improperly obtained film of the opposing team is the secret to Belichick's success. Everyone knows that. Come on Joe — breaking down improperly obtained film of the opposing team is the secret to Belichick’s success. Everyone knows that.

]]> By: Brent http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84738 Brent Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:46:49 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84738 But Siberian, as I recall, Freddie P. did that at Fenway. Maybe playing in that ballpark his whole career instead of the cavernous Royals Stadium would have done wonders for his HR totals. But Siberian, as I recall, Freddie P. did that at Fenway. Maybe playing in that ballpark his whole career instead of the cavernous Royals Stadium would have done wonders for his HR totals.

]]> By: Siberian Khatru http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84737 Siberian Khatru Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:44:09 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84737 Yeah, but it finally paid off for Patek at the end of his career when he hit 3 HRs in a game with the Angels. I still think that is one of THE most remarkable achievements in baseball history. That should be your next book, Joe. :0) Yeah, but it finally paid off for Patek at the end of his career when he hit 3 HRs in a game with the Angels.

I still think that is one of THE most remarkable achievements in baseball history. That should be your next book, Joe. :0)

]]> By: Nausea in Nebraska http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84735 Nausea in Nebraska Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:10:36 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84735 Only Joe could get me to read 2500+ words telling me how wonderfully human and yet, still better than me Derek Jeter is. The frustrating brillance of the Yanks is this: even when they do something that makes the casual fan say "that was dumb", they still win. Had that maneuver been tried by the Phils, Angels, Sox, Cards, or any other elite team, they would have promptly given up 5 runs in the next half inning and lose. I need a shower. Only Joe could get me to read 2500+ words telling me how wonderfully human and yet, still better than me Derek Jeter is.

The frustrating brillance of the Yanks is this: even when they do something that makes the casual fan say “that was dumb”, they still win. Had that maneuver been tried by the Phils, Angels, Sox, Cards, or any other elite team, they would have promptly given up 5 runs in the next half inning and lose.

I need a shower.

]]> By: Brent http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84733 Brent Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:09:44 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84733 So after game 4, does Johnny Damon take the Title as Smartest Player in the Clubhouse for the Yankees? Quite a Jeterism by JD last night. So after game 4, does Johnny Damon take the Title as Smartest Player in the Clubhouse for the Yankees?

Quite a Jeterism by JD last night.

]]> By: John http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84730 John Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:12:39 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/30/the-jeter-bunt/#comment-84730 Joe Words...you mean "jowords?" Joe Words…you mean “jowords?”

]]>