How to Watch Baseball

Diamond Trick

When the Hand Calls for Finesse — Bunt

Phil Rizzuto, from the photograph printed with his chapter.

By Phil Rizzuto,Shortstop, New York Yankees

Pages 14–15 · Phillips Petroleum Company, 1953

A properly executed bunt can, in some instances, win a ball game quite as effectively as a home run. It can score a vital run, advance base runners to scoring position and, especially when used unexpectedly, get the batter to first base just as surely as any other method.

Take a situation that demands a bunt: runners on first and second and nobody out. Unless the team at bat is far behind in a late inning or a left-handed pull hitter like Ted Williams is the hitter in a park like Yankee Stadium, strategy dictates the runners be moved up a base by a sacrifice. Both runners then will be in position to score on a hit. The runner on third may be able to score on an outfield fly or even on a certain type of infield grounder. And the team in the field has much less chance of getting out of trouble through a double play.

But all this is also known by the team in the field, and six of them set out to frustrate the bunt attempt. The pitcher pitches a ball difficult to bunt and then rushes to cover bunting territory between the mound and the third base line. The catcher gets ready to pounce on short bunts in front of the plate. The first baseman gets ready to move in and cover bunting territory between the mound and the first base line. The second baseman gets ready to move over to cover first base. The shortstop holds the runner on second close to the bag. The third baseman alerts himself for a strong bunt in his direction and also is ready to cover the bag and take a force throw.

To cope with this six-man defense, the bunter needs finesse and accuracy. He must bunt the ball to one of three spots: halfway down either base line and close to the foul line, or straight toward the mound. The last method will work against a clumsy pitcher.

In an obvious bunting situation it is pointless for the batter to try to conceal his intention. He should ready himself in bunting position as soon as the pitcher releases the ball, or even before.

When a batter uses the bunt, not in an obvious sacrifice situation but as a surprise maneuver to reach first base, he should study the infielders for a vulnerable spot. For example, a slow-moving pitcher and a first baseman with sluggish reactions should encourage an attempt to push a bunt toward the second baseman.

On such a bunt, the batter retains his normal position until after the pitcher has released the ball. Then, instead of taking a full swing, he merely shoves the bat at the ball with a loose grip. This takes some of the speed off the ball and makes it dribble slowly toward the second baseman. If the batter can accomplish this and get away from the plate fast, it is not often any one of the three — pitcher, first baseman or second baseman — will be able to get to the ball in time to make a play. Or if one of them does, frequently there is nobody left to cover first.

So, when a player comes to bat in an obvious bunting situation or a player with a good reputation as a bunter comes to the plate,

The Sacrifice Bunt
  1. 1The runner on first takes a modest lead, ready to break with the pitch.
  2. 2He breaks for second with the pitch while the batter squares around to bunt.
  3. 3With a loosened, shifted grip he shoves the bat at the ball -- not too short, not too long -- and the third baseman charges it.
  4. 4By the time he reaches the ball the runner is already in scoring position at second; his throw is too late to force anyone.
Adapted from the diagram on page 15: “Not too short, not too long. That’s the secret of a sacrifice bunt that will advance runner. Insert shows loosening, shifting grip for bunt.”