Is it too hard for Rudy Jaramillo (hitting coach) to teach Hank Blalock and Mark Teixiera how to bunt down the 3rd baseline? I get tired of seeing them ground out into the left-hander shift. Your comments.
2006-07-20 16:19:45 · 13 answers · asked by You don't know me 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
If you ask them i bet they would say something like...i am paid by the Texas Rangers for my power and ability to drive in runs, not for bunting singles down the line. Maybe they should every once in a while to keep defenses honest. Obviously with Teixeira's power outage this year he isn't hitting for power. but i think if they really wanted to, they could lay down a bunt, they are big-league ballplayers after all. they are probably given the green light to swing away and thats what they do. maybe they should start bunting, maybe not. but i dont think the Rangers would score as much as they do without the power in the middle of the lineup
2006-07-20 17:28:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I hate the shift, but both Blalock and Teixeira have had a few hits this down the third base line against it. A bunt every now and then might kick start an inning, but not until Hank and Mark started doing it consistently. As for Jaramillo, he seems to be loved by his players, but I don't understand why he can't get the Rangers out of this season long power slump. He's regarded as one of the best in the game, but the lineup just hasn't clicked with any consistency all season. Thank God the rest of the division has been mediocre, or we'd be 15 games out by now...
2006-07-21 11:51:04 · answer #2 · answered by rangersfan34 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because power hitters are not expected to bunt. Some do, if they have speed (Willie Mays, for instance). Ted Williams bunted for a base hit in the 1946 World Series, but he was extremely frustrated at the time.
The role of a power hitter is to do exactly that: hit. He moves the runners with base hits and deep flyouts. Sacrifice bunts are a waste of their talent, and a manager should call on them to bunt only in a surprise situation.
Shifts can be beaten. Ted Williams, also a left-handed hitter, won a number of batting titles after shifts were devised against him. That's the example Jaramillo needs to look at. Hopefully, he won't...I'd like the Mariners to finish ahead of the Rangers!
2006-07-21 07:56:08 · answer #3 · answered by BroadwayPhil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. I understand that they want to hit for runs and not just to drive them in, but they need to know how to make a simple bunt. I agree.
2006-07-21 00:31:56 · answer #4 · answered by *AstrosChick* 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have them talk to Ortiz. He finally figured out yesterday that he can bunt for a basehit with the shift on!
2006-07-20 23:35:19 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel Z 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES YOU RIGHT HE NEED TO TEACH THEN TO BUNT 3RD BASE SIDE. FOR TWO REASON ONE TO GET A HIT.
TWO IS TO MAKE THE OTHER TEAM NOT TO PUT ON THE SHIFT
2006-07-20 23:54:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I get so frustrated with Jimmy Rollins here in Philly. No discipline at the plate. I'll take Pete Rose any day.
2006-07-20 23:50:08 · answer #7 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with u. Since they r power hitters...... They r not used to bunting.
2006-07-21 10:35:42 · answer #8 · answered by Yankeefan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well its blalock and marks fault for not knowing how to hit good
2006-07-20 23:25:27 · answer #9 · answered by Freddy p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rangers rule all. And yeah I'm sick of that shift too, pisses the heck outta me.
2006-07-20 23:26:58 · answer #10 · answered by Blazepitcher34 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋