Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Wednesday 29 March 2017

Sacrifice bunts changed since I’ve come “It’s crazy because you

Continued from page 17 into the league. We try to can’t take it for granted,”
strike a guy out instead of Phillies right-hander Vince
giving him a pitch to bunt.” Velasquez said. “It’s that
The Boston Red Sox had Failure to get a bunt down one thing that can make a
eight sacrifices last year. in a close game not only big difference in the game
But they had seven players frustrates managers and if you don’t get that bunt
hit double-digit home runs, coaches, but it can grate down. Your whole mental-
including five with more on a player who doesn’t ity is definitely changed
than 20. do his job. Some pitchers going to the mound. You
Manager John Farrell said take that negative vibe out are beating yourself up be-
in spring training he wants to the mound and it affects cause you didn’t get that
players to consider bun- their performance. bunt down.”q
ting for hits to counter de-
fensive shifts. Drag bunts
aren’t sacrifices, so don’t
expect the Red Sox to give In this March 21, 2009, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
up many outs to move a Brandon Webb lays down a sacrifice bunt in the second inning
runner. against the Kansas City Royals during a spring training baseball
Toronto Blue Jays center game in Tucson, Ariz. Associated Press
fielder Kevin Pillar recently
spent a day switching from batter’s box; pivot; hold Phillies starter Jeremy
a Triple-A exhibition game the bat at the top of the Hellickson offered another
to a Double-A contest on strike zone; ensure full plate explanation for pitchers
adjacent fields, attempt- coverage; aim for a bunt having trouble bunting.
ing to reach on bunt sin- between the plate and the “Guys don’t just feed
gles in all seven at-bats. He mound. you a heater to let you
went 0 for 7. “You gotta want to bunt, get the bunt down any-
“It’s something that I want you gotta want to get it more,” Hellickson said. “It’s
to have as a tool, some- down,” Morandini said.
thing in my back pocket,” “It’s a mentality. You got-
Pillar said. There’s another ta understand it’s help-
reason why sacrifice bunts ing your team win and it’s
are down. It comes down an important part of the
to practice and execution. game.”
“Guys don’t want to work Bowa had 151 sacrifices
at it and they can’t bunt,” during a 16-year career
Phillies bench coach Larry played mostly with the Phil- Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
Bowa said. “They don’t lies in the 1970s and early FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
know how to bunt. To me, 80s. He’s exasperated by HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES.
if you practice bunting, the inability to bunt. CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION
it’s the easiest thing in the “It’s embarrassing to see
world. If you don’t prac- guys at the big leagues not
tice, it’s the hardest thing be able to lay down a sac- LIVE POKER
in the world.” rifice bunt,” Bowa said. “It’s
Technique is a problem. embarrassing. But, it’s not a GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
Some players still square priority. Lots of teams don’t
around in the batter’s box want to give away outs.”
when they’re trying to bunt. Philadelphia’s position 1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
That decreases their ability players work on bunting
to put it down successfully, each day in spring train- $100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
according to Bowa and ing. They focus more on OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
Morandini. Both former bunting for hits during bat-
major leaguers explained ting practice in the regular CRAPS
the proper way to bunt is season. Pitchers work on it
to pivot in the batter’s box. throughout the season. ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
When a batter spins his feet “The reason pitchers don’t
while staying in place, he bunt, they’re afraid of get-
maintains better bat con- ting hit,” Bowa said. “They SPORTSBOOK
trol and can get out of the go down to the batting
way of an errant pitch. cage and bunt. They bunt LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
Morandini’s five-step 50, 75 balls a day, but in THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
guide to sacrifice bunting a game they’re afraid of
is simple: move back in the getting hit.”