The Sac Bunt in MLB

Question
Hello Rick.    In a game situation where a Sacrifice Bunt is a rational option (eg. Runner on 1st, 1 or None out), can a MLB batter decide for himself how the pitch should be hit?  Or is it strictly up to the manager?   In broad terms, how does a manager decide whether or not to go for the Sac Bunt in those situations?       Thank you!

Answer
Rob, thank you for your question.

Sacrifice bunts become an option with one or no outs and a runner on first, or a runner on second, or runners on both first and second.

The decision is generally based on;

1.  The managers offensive philosophy:  Some managers steadfastly refuse to bunt, unless it is the pitcher at the plate.  Others will expand it to add  hitter's 7 and 8 in the lineup; but are swinging away with all others.

2.  Some will bunt these situations only later in a close game, the rest of the time they are swinging away or executing a hit and run, or if the runners are good base stealers, they will try getting them in scoring position with a steal, so they did not give up an out to get the runner there.  It also depends on who the hitter is.  Miguel Cabrera will be swinging, where the hitter before him may be bunting.

3.  There are times when the movement of the runner is critical enough that a hitter will be asked to continue bunting, even though they have 2 strikes on them.  This can also occur if the manager believes that the hitter will not be able to swing away successfully, which happens to pitchers more often than position players.


Hitters generally will not take it upon themselves to bunt in these situations, as situational strategies are almost always decided by the manager.

Much thought goes into these decisions; most always current situation based, not a steadfast rule.


Yours in baseball,

Rick