To Bunt Or Not To Bunt

A key play to the Reds win last night was Derek Dietrich's bunt single against the shift over the Atlanta Braves.

The left-handed pull hitting batter was at the plate with one out and a runner on first base when he bunted to the left side of the infield for a single. Dietrich became the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.  He scored on a double by Jose Peraza.

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The time to do it is when runners are needed.  In Dietrich's situation, he had the tying run on base.  An extra base hit would tie the game.  The problem is that the shift is primarily used to get outs but it also makes an extra base hit short of a home run less likely.

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"Sometimes with two outs it depends who is hitting behind you," Bell said.  "It might make more sense for one of your best hitters to drive in a run.  A runner on first base and two outs might be an extreme example depending on who is hitting behind you.  You might want to drive in the run instead of getting on base and getting the next guy to do it.  If it is a guy who can get an extra base hit, you want them to do that.  I will say a runner is a runner.  There are more opportunities to get an extra runner, we'd take.  The other thing is, you don't always get it down.  Some of these pitchers we're facing it is not always easy to get the bunt down.  All of a sudden you are at a disadvantage in the count if you foul it off.  There is some strategy to it."

It boils down to the times you need a base runner or a time you need and extra base hit.

Defensively, there are times when Bell will shift to invite a certain hitter to bunt.  Generally, it is the hitters that he uses the four-man outfield against.

"There are times when you ask yourself if you want to take the bunt away or do you want to prevent the extra base hit," Bell said.  "A lot of times, you will give him the bunt with two outs and a runner on first because worst case scenario, it will be first and second and the next guy will be up there to hit. You may pitch around a hitter.  It is the same with the bunt."

Bell gave an extreme example on the other side.

"Say the best left-handed hitter in the game comes up in the ninth inning and they are down by two runs.  The bunt is a great play because you need another runner to tie the game.  Either they hit a home run or get on base.  They need one of those for the tying run.  It would depend on who is hitting next."

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