�What is the most exciting play in baseball?� Ask ten baseball fans this question. I�m willing to go out on a very sturdy limb and say that 90% or more (if not all) say that the homerun is. Why not? These giants we call baseball players are a mere step away from gods in their physic. With arms the size of canons and bodies built like a tree trunk one mighty swing of the bat and�.CRACK�.the tape measures are out. Human instinct has us craving anything that is beyond our abilities and ourselves. Watching Big Mac go deep into the second or third �tanks� in the biggest of ball parks is what keeps us baseball fans on the edge of our seats every time a power hitter comes to the plate.
Are you one of those included in that 90%? If so, take a step back and join the few that think the bunt is the most exciting and important play in baseball (at least for the duration of this article). Now I know most think this to be a ridiculous idea but think about it for a second. While most marvel at the size and power of the homerun hitter others marvel at the speed and the placement of a bunt hit. Homeruns are just a matter of hitting the weight room and an extra few hours in the batting cages. How can you teach a player how to mold speed, quick reaction and a perfectly placed bunt and have them do it on a consistent basis game in and game out? You can�t really. It�s an �art�. This is why the bunt has often been referred to as �the art of��
What about the suicide squeeze? When was the last time you remember a team pulling it off successfully? Personally, I couldn�t tell you. Think about the excitement in this play. Both runners and hitters need to be on the same page in order for it to work�the runner at third especially. If one sign is missed, the runner either runs himself into an out to a patiently waiting catcher or worse yet gets decapitated by a scorching line drive by a hitter trying to get a clutch base hit. What�s more exciting than that? This scenario even has the element of violence which is another intriguing thing that humans seem to fancy. Tell me you have never passed a horrible car accident and not looked to see what happened knowing full well that you might see something completely horrifying. When a squeeze is on and a batter swings, the crowd grimaces in anticipation for the runner to �swallow� the ball. It �is� an exciting play but unfortunately rarely ever happens because players and managers are too much into the �power game� whether it be a homer or a sacrifice fly. Which do you think is the higher percentage play to get the runner in from third? In my opinion, the squeeze is if everyone is on the same page and you have a guy that actually KNOWS what a bunt is!
Mark Zaboroski is a senior writer for fantasy fix...send emails to [email protected] |
