Scioscia bunting Mike Trout over with Erick Aybar

[Chuck]

Granted this is spring training, but something I've feared all along with Erick Aybar in the 2-hole seems to be a thing of reality heading into the season. Since Aybar has returned from the WBC, Scioscia has used Erick Aybar to bunt Mike Trout over THREE TIMES! 

 

You don't throw away outs with the likes of Mike Trout and potentially Peter Bourjos on base (who have speed to steal bags). I would rather roll the dice with a stolen base (Especially with Mike Trout who has a high success rate) and have Aybar in an RBI situation, than see Trout at 2B with one out and Pujols & Hamilton coming up. 

 

Mike, go for the big inning, you have the hitters to do it. Please do not sacrifice outs unless it's Bourjos bunting over Iannetta or Callaspo at the bottom of the lineup to get in scoring position for Mike Trout. 

 

This really concerns me and was one of the main reasons why I wanted Callaspo in the 2-hole (not as accomplished bunting as Aybar). 

 

With the pitching staff a concern going into the regular season, it would behoove Scioscia to manage the team's offense in a way that will maximize its potential for scoring as many runs as possible.

 

EOM, Discuss.....

[gurn67]

"My momma always says..."

[Raka]

Maybe he just wants Aybar to work on his sac bunts, in fairness it has not looked pretty.  Its a bit weird because he seems to be good at laying down drag bunts.

[AZMike]

Truot, Aybar and Bourjos have all been bunting repeatedly. Hopefully this is just a drill / practice for late inning high tie situtions and not a plan for the regular season in the first two innings.

[Chuck]

Truot, Aybar and Bourjos have all been bunting repeatedly. Hopefully this is just a drill / practice for late inning high tie situtions and not a plan for the regular season in the first two innings.

 

I really hope that's the case. 

 

I'm going to be tearing my hair out during the regular season if this trend continues from April 1st on. 

[Wallerrrr]

lol @ 3 times already just in the past week. I didnt think it had been that many times already but damn...thats a lot of bunting

[Homebrewer]

I agree totally, Chuck.

With the potential in this offense, playing for one run early in games will hurt, especially with the pitching situation.

Can Scioscia keep himself from doing it? I would like to think so, but experience tells me no.

I am still in the Kendrick corner to bat 2nd, but realize I am nearly alone there.

[Angel Oracle]

What Chuck said.

No SMART MLB manager in his right mind sac bunts with Trout on 1st.

[Eric]

Rule #1: If Aybar is in the batter's box, he's at least thinking about bunting.

 

Rule #2: If Aybar tries to swing away, he's still thinking he should have tried to bunt.

 

Rule #3: If Aybar is in the game, he will try to bunt.

 

Rule #4: The only way Aybar is not trying to bunt is if he is out of the lineup.

 

Rule #5: Never, ever, under any circumstances be surprised when Aybar bunts.

[Angel Oracle]

LOL
 

Seriously though, bunting for a basehit is fine.    Sac bunts are not.

[AZMike]

Rule #1: If Aybar is in the batter's box, he's at least thinking about bunting.

 

Rule #2: If Aybar tries to swing away, he's still thinking he should have tried to bunt.

 

Rule #3: If Aybar is in the game, he will try to bunt.

 

Rule #4: The only way Aybar is not trying to bunt is if he is out of the lineup.

 

Rule #5: Never, ever, under any circumstances be surprised when Aybar bunts.

 

as of now I'd like to see Kendrick in the 2-spot, Bourjos in the 9-spot. Kendrick shouldn't get doubled up nearly as often with speedy guys on base in front of him as opposed to guys like Morales or Iannetta.

 

Maybe Scioscia will try this against LHP. 

[jshep]

LOL

 

Seriously though, bunting for a basehit is fine.    Sac bunts are not.

Ya, and Aybar is really good at bunting for base hits.

[EDinTUSTIN]

Granted this is spring training, but something I've feared all along with Erick Aybar in the 2-hole seems to be a thing of reality heading into the season. Since Aybar has returned from the WBC, Scioscia has used Erick Aybar to bunt Mike Trout over THREE TIMES! 

 

You don't throw away outs with the likes of Mike Trout and potentially Peter Bourjos on base (who have speed to steal bags). I would rather roll the dice with a stolen base (Especially with Mike Trout who has a high success rate) and have Aybar in an RBI situation, than see Trout at 2B with one out and Pujols & Hamilton coming up. 

 

Mike, go for the big inning, you have the hitters to do it. Please do not sacrifice outs unless it's Bourjos bunting over Iannetta or Callaspo at the bottom of the lineup to get in scoring position for Mike Trout. 

 

This really concerns me and was one of the main reasons why I wanted Callaspo in the 2-hole (not as accomplished bunting as Aybar). 

 

With the pitching staff a concern going into the regular season, it would behoove Scioscia to manage the team's offense in a way that will maximize its potential for scoring as many runs as possible.

 

EOM, Discuss.....

Chuck, I couldn't agree with you more. When you first started the thread about Callaspo batting second instead of Aybar that was the first thought that came to mind for me. Callaspo is not know as a particulary adept bunter, but is a good contact hitter with some doubles power and a fairly low K rate. With Aybar second, Mike will tend to play small ball tactics, and with being sandwiched between Trout and Pujos who is protected by Hamilton that is simply going to give away outs and early runs. This almost makes me wish Dipoto would trade away Aybar as well. Of course I said 'almost', as we are not going to get a better shortstop. Look how well Torii did put in that spot. Granted, Callaspo is not as good as Torii, but he has a competent bat.

[EDinTUSTIN]

I agree totally, Chuck.

With the potential in this offense, playing for one run early in games will hurt, especially with the pitching situation.

Can Scioscia keep himself from doing it? I would like to think so, but experience tells me no.

I am still in the Kendrick corner to bat 2nd, but realize I am nearly alone there.

I would be onboard with that. A couple of seasons ago, Torii was the DP king. However, he really cut down on that stat last season, particularly in the two hole. If Pujols is back to normal, the second hole hitter will see a lot of fastballs. Howie hits those extremely well - and he has more power than either Aybar or Callaspo. Callaspo is more disciplined and a better contact hitter, and is also a better choice for the two hole than Aybar in my opinion.

[The God of Runs]

Trout should have double the amount of steals

[Angel Oracle]

And +1 to Aybar not being very good at bunting to move runners over.

Exhibit A without a doubt, game 4 of the 2008 ALDS!

[yk9001]

Man I hate bunting.

 

I am so ready for a new manager.

[ScottT]

You know it will happen in the regular season. Playoffs, too, if they get there.

It is incredibly stupid to do it with a runner on second and nobody out early in the game. Trout can score from second on a groundout.

[tdawg87]

Mike needs to learn to evolve with the team. This is no longer a pitching heavy/sacrifice for 1 run team. They are going to score runs in bunches and from the looks of the pitching staff, they are going to need to to win games.

 

He is so freaking stubborn.

[halofan1]

Lets just hope it's spring training and he is just "getting his work in" in regards to sac bunts or it could be a long season.

[Eric]

It's going to be a long season.

 

FTFY

[Wallerrrr]

"Its just spring training"

[yk9001]

Are the guys getting a huge round of high fives and congrats in the dugout after their bunt outs?

[Troll Daddy]

Non issue really ... I think Mike will play it right. If Aybar bunts ... it will be for a base hit. I doubt Mike is going to be giving any outs away unless it's late in the game. I hope to see more hit and run plays.

[rick99gtp]

Wasn't it pretty clear today that they were working on things?  That's all this is.  If it's obvious to US...the fans...that Aybar needs to work on his bunting ability, then maybe he should be working on it.  Some people understand bunting others don't.  Those that don't, hate it.  In my opinion, bunting in the early innings in spring training is simply that...training.  For when it's late in a game and we really need that run.

 

I'm glad they work on it during games.