Curtis Granderson: Bunting is OK in a no-no

by Randy Booth on Jun 8, 2009 10:49 PM EDT in News Comment 6 comments

Ya'll remember that no-no Josh Beckett was spinning last week? Do you remember Gerald Laird's bunt attempt in the sixth inning as well? Curtis Granderson says there shouldn't be a problem bunting in a no-hit game -- that's baseball:

"The name of the game is to try and win the game," Granderson wrote. "If bunting is a part of your game, like it is for Gerald, why not try a bunt? I have always been confused by all these unwritten rules in baseball that make no sense to me."

Granderson reasons that if Laird would have bunted to break up a no-hit bid in the third inning, he shouldn’t be criticized for trying to do the same thing in a later at-bat. In a close game, why wouldn’t a player try to get a hit — or a run — any way he can?

"A bunt is a hit and has to be defended," Granderson wrote. "It’s part of the game."

I agree with Mr. Granderson here, who, by the way, is an outfield star for Nine Pedroias (that's my fantasy team's name!). While it may be, in some situations, a "cheap" way to break up a no-no, it's part of the game. If a bunt's going to work (and at least give the team a chance at coming back to win -- presuming they are already losing), then it shouldn't be taken out of the scenario just because it's not a hard-hit ball to center field.

Here's my problem: Gerald Laird is a catcher. What the? Who the? What the hell kind of catcher in the American League bunts? That's where Granderson is wrong. Catchers are meant to hit into a double plays and occasionally hit 500-foot bombs. Not bunt. That's like Granderson not striking out 100 times in a season -- it just doesn't happen.

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I think Tito basically said the same thing.

“Part of the game.” I agree. It was still only 4-0, they needed baserunners.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 8, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Laird has had 24 bunt hits from 2006-2008

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 9, 2009 3:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a problem with it...

…so long as if there is ever a time when Jacoby Ellsbury breaks up a no hitter by Justin Verlander in the seventh inning with a bunt single, the next pitch doesn’t break Dustin Pedroia’s ribs.

by RSNexile on Jun 9, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I completely disagree.

Bunting in a no-hitter is a cheap, no-good, heartless approach to the game of baseball. It’s like swatting a fielder’s glove as he tries to tag you out. It’s like yelling “Mine” as you run by a player trying to catch an easy infield pop-up. It’s like dating Madonna.

In other words, it violates all the unwritten rules of baseball, which, incidentally, may be found compiled in my forthcoming book Spare A-Rod and Spoil the Game: A Written Primer on Baseball’s Unwritten Rules.

I’ll quote from Chapter 18:
“And remember, never, ever pump steroids into your own butt. This is what trusted friends are for.”

Whoops, that isn’t actually relevant to this discussion. Maybe it was Chapter 3:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of reason, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…”

That doesn’t sound right either. Let’s try Chapter 35:
“During a no-hitter, the following behavior is inappropriate and will be punished severely by the agents of baseball’s secret society. That’s right, break these rules and we’ll send our tall, lanky albino with the long hair, cattle gun, tendency for self-flagellation, and proclivity to call everyone he meets ‘Friendo.’

Unwritten Rule 1 – The following teams make too much money and are off-limits for no-hitting: New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and the Los Angeles Angels of Xanadu.

Unwritten Rule 2 – The following pitchers are not allowed to get official no-hitters: Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Javier Lopez…

Unwritten Rule 3 – Bunting is not allowed in a no-hitter, for any reason, unless your manager is Ron Gardenhire or Mike Scioscia. Those two have sacrificed enough goats, sheep, and other farm animals to our sinister cabal to get a pass on any rule they’d like to break.

Unwritten Rule 4 – These unwritten rules are the property of Major League Baseball and the Elders of Cylon, and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the express written consent of Baseball. Otherwise we’ll send our enforcer with the cattle gun after you."

Hopefully this clears matters up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to answer the door. Someone’s ringing and yelling “Open up, Friendo.”

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Jun 9, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's albino?

But, his hair was dark…

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 9, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My roommate (Tigers' fan)

and I had a discussion about this. I think in the situation (as tommy mentioned), the score was 4-0. Nothing against Laird trying to make something happen. I almost want to say it’d be different if we’d already been up 10-0…but I dunno.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Jun 10, 2009 4:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs