The thing about bunting a runner over to second with no one out is that it hurts a team’s chances to score a lot of runs. It’s math talking. Nerds aren’t just making this up because they hate the world and everything in it.
World Series Game 7: Carpenter Rolling, Cards Still Up 3-2
Ian Kinsler led off the top of the fifth inning with a single just under the glove of David Freese.
moved him over with a bunt. The next two hitters made an out. This was not a surprise.
Now, if Andrus doesn't bunt? Maybe he hits into a double play. Maybe he pops up, and the next two hitters make outs as well. It's not a guarantee of success. But in the fifth inning of a game on the road, is playing for the tie really the best strategy? Especially considering that the Cardinals have been scoring tworveteen runs in every game of the World Series, or at least the games not started by Derek Holland.
It's still Cardinals 3, Rangers 2, and it's early, but giving away an out in exchange for a slightly better chance at a single run seems like a bad move right now.
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