There are times that a batter leading off the inning, particularly if he has excellent speed, will try to lay down a bunt to get on base. If this scenario is going to work, the bunt has to be played down the third base line. The bunt can only be right down the line our foul. If you pull it too close to the pitchers mound, you allow the pitcher to make a play on the ball, with a shorter throw. The other piece of the puzzle is that the third baseman has to be playing deep. Typically, I have seen this done on the first pitch of the inning. If the bunt is pulled down the line, it can work. However, if the ball is bunted poorly you get the results you describe above.

The advantages of this are two fold. If it works, you get a speedster on base and it is usually a surprise play, again this is why the third baseman needs to be deep. If you lay down a good bunt and it happens to go foul, you suddenly get the infielders thinking…meaning that third baseman will take a few steps in and may even break a couple of steps to home on the pitch. If that is the case, swing away and try to rip it down the third base line, either the third baseman will mishandle a hard hit ball or it will squirt through the gap.

Again, the keys to the play are a well placed bunt, typically on the first couple of pitches of the inning and a third baseman that is playing deep. Easier said than done.

I have no idea if these were called by Martin or not, but sometimes it can be an automatic play with certain batters, especially if they recognize that positioning. It can be an effective play if executed well. Obviously, those are big if’s.

Hope that helps…