The sac bunt is a vital part of a championship team’s offense, there is nothing wimpy about it – don’t believe us, watch the current CWS. Don’t waste this weapon, it can lead to big game victories. Understand the importance of this play once you get the signal (you should be experienced enough to anticipate the sign given the game situation). Once you get the sign, visualize a successful bunt before stepping back into the batter’s box.

Rule # 1 – Bunt strikes only, we will gladly take a walk

Rule # 2 – It’s a SACRIFICE! Do not attempt to bunt so precisely for a hit that you bunt into a force out of the lead runner, wasting the valuable out (and providing the defense a psychological lift).

Technique Tips for You to Work on in BP

1) Put your bathead with a slight tilt upwards (handle lower than bat head) in front of the plate . This increases the odds of a fair ball and at least makes the defense make a play.
2) Bend your knees slightly and keep your elbows in, acting as a shock absorber when you make contact.
3) Put your bat at the top of the strike zone (in your crouch). Why? So you will train yourself to not bunt anything above your bat (a ball and even more dangerous if contact is made, a popup is probable).
4) Use your legs (not your hands) to move the bat according to the pitch – which means to lower your bat if you need to, because you aren’t bunting higher pitches – they are not strikes.
5) You are ‘catching’ the ball with your bat (visualize a glove on your bat). Let the ball hit the bat beyond your top hand and into the sweet spot.

Study the diagram and bunt either toward the baseballs or anywhere 15-30 feet in front of the plate (not closer, not further).

DON’T:

Poke, chase pitches, or start running before contact. Remember, it’s not about you!

Bunting on the left side of the infield is almost always the most successful way of advancing a runner from second to third. Even Coach Rowland’s and Emerson’s wheel play finds it difficult to stop, and quite frankly we want 18 year old off-balanced third basemen trying to hit a moving target shortstop (we’ll score on the bad throw). The rule – foul or successful (meaning not back at pitcher) if you miss, miss to the left and foul.

Work on this offensive weapon during BP. Don’t just go through the motions, ask your coaches questions. Practice does not make perfect (it develops muscle memory/sometimes of a poor technique). Perfect practice makes perfect. I guarantee you that we’ll need this weapon at a tight game between two evenly matched talented teams in Atlanta (MacGeorge/McElhenny you learn it also for CGL games).
Got it? Get it. Good! Hup, hup, ballgame.