5/14 Cubs (Dempster) @ Cards (Westbrook) 6:05 CDT, WCIU/ESPN

[Guest]

I still don't think it's a good idea, but I do feel better having read some of Sveum's comments about Castro's bunt. He said that Castro shouldn't have been bunting when he saw the infield charging hard and should have pulled back and slashed, which is reasonable with Castro's contact ability. He also said that he figured the likely outcome of the bunt was LaHair getting walked, and he liked bases loaded, 1 out for Soriano better than 1st and 2nd, 0 outs for Castro. Maybe I watched Little Big League too many times, but I don't like taking the bat out of your 3 and 4 hitters intentionally. That said, I like that there's some semblance of logic being articulated as to why they went that route.

 

Some semblance of thinking involved, maybe. But it's not logical at all.

 

Bases loaded, 1 out: 1.631 runs expected

1st & 2nd, 0 out: 1.556 runs expected

 

Like I said, I'd rather not do it if it means that we pass over Castro and LaHair to get there and risk a bad bunt, but it is a (ever so slightly) more optimal scenario to get to. Even moreso if Castro is supposed to be swinging if the infield charges in, I can understand the logic.

[SouthSideRyan]

I still don't think it's a good idea, but I do feel better having read some of Sveum's comments about Castro's bunt. He said that Castro shouldn't have been bunting when he saw the infield charging hard and should have pulled back and slashed, which is reasonable with Castro's contact ability. He also said that he figured the likely outcome of the bunt was LaHair getting walked, and he liked bases loaded, 1 out for Soriano better than 1st and 2nd, 0 outs for Castro. Maybe I watched Little Big League too many times, but I don't like taking the bat out of your 3 and 4 hitters intentionally. That said, I like that there's some semblance of logic being articulated as to why they went that route.

 

Some semblance of thinking involved, maybe. But it's not logical at all.

 

Bases loaded, 1 out: 1.631 runs expected

1st & 2nd, 0 out: 1.556 runs expected

 

Like I said, I'd rather not do it if it means that we pass over Castro and LaHair to get there and risk a bad bunt, but it is a (ever so slightly) more optimal scenario to get to. Even moreso if Castro is supposed to be swinging if the infield charges in, I can understand the logic.

 

It's only optimal if all the hitters are the same.

[jersey cubs fan]

Like I said, I'd rather not do it if it means that we pass over Castro and LaHair to get there and risk a bad bunt, but it is a (ever so slightly) more optimal scenario to get to.

 

No, it isn't. You are talking about very different caliber hitters in those different situations.

[Guest]

Right, which is why I wouldn't have done it. The point was that I can handle disagreeing over that logic a lot easier than disagreeing over the generic "gotta move the runners over" platitudes of the past.