Last night I tried bunting with my pitchers since I was having little luck swinging. Most of the time it either bounced to the pitcher or I fouled out. However, a few slow rollers got past the pitcher, then rolled out of the infield, then all the way to the wall. I hit two HRs this way with Fatty Fernando.
You guys have WAY more experience playing this game than I. Do you prefer to swing away or bunt with your pitcher?
Against CPU always swing and try to hit the coveted pitcher HR (not inside the park)
The bunt only works if you're taking advantage of the 1988 artificial intelligence, or if you have an extra out and a runner on third...
Bunting for bunting's sake (in 2P) with a speed demon (colman, lopes, etc) works maybe 5-10% of the time when you lay it down perfectly, so you generally have a better chance just swinging away anyways.
And it's way too easy to bunt foul and get out... so I never bunt with 2 strikes unless it seems necessary.
Generally with pitchers batting I don't swing or do anything until I've got 2 strikes, unless someone's on 3rd base. If nothing else I can take a bit off the opposing pitcher's stamina.
It doesn't matter, if you are playing against the CPU you shouldn't need the pitcher in slaughtering the computer in two innings.
Quote from: Re-Peat on 06/26/08, 01:00:23 PM
Bunting for bunting's sake (in 2P) with a speed demon (colman, lopes, etc) works maybe 5-10% of the time when
Only if you're like 8 games into a drinking games tourney.
Quote from: Attezz on 06/26/08, 01:05:08 PM
Quote from: Re-Peat on 06/26/08, 01:00:23 PM
Bunting for bunting's sake (in 2P) with a speed demon (colman, lopes, etc) works maybe 5-10% of the time when
Only if you're like 8 games into a drinking games tourney.
You can lay down a bunt with decent velocity down the line and beat the throw, regardless of how well the defense is played, but that only happens maybe 1/10-1/20 attempts. Like I said, it's totally not worth it, but it is possible to bunt productively.
Even when you're sober.
I'd still recommend drinking though...
I have a little more luck with the swinging bunt - usually trying to bunt directionally (by having the bat angled) doesn't work, but if you half-swing twice, you can get a bunt-powered hit that you can control a bit, if that makes any sense (which it probably doesn't).
Quote from: BeefMaster on 06/26/08, 01:15:32 PM
I have a little more luck with the swinging bunt - usually trying to bunt directionally (by having the bat angled) doesn't work, but if you half-swing twice, you can get a bunt-powered hit that you can control a bit, if that makes any sense (which it probably doesn't).
I've definitely done this before (the dreaded checked swing-turns into-bunt speed hit) but I've never done it intentionally or with much control.
I don't know that I could pull a ball with that method, but I've had occasional success grounding it to the left side with lefties, basically turning it into a pseudo-Pettis (http://dee-nee.com/rbi/glossary.shtml#PETTIS).
bunting can be a key part of the game and is best used to get a man to 2nd base. check swing bunt.