Phillies fans don’t have much to look forward to this season, but if manager Ryne Sandberg has his way they’ll see plenty of bunts, hit-and-runs, stolen bases, and analytically questionable strategy designed to score one run at a time.
Already this spring the Phillies have bunted more often than any other two teams combined--including two bunts with runners in scoring position and zero outs Wednesday--and Sandberg told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that’s part of his “small ball” plan:
That’s something that I’m stressing this spring. We’re working on it. We’re practicing it. If it’s not a bunt, it could be a hit and run. Get a baserunner, make something happen--really to set the tone for the season. ... I look at our bats and our type of team, and I think we’re going to have to be good at that game.
In other words: We can’t hit, so we might as well bunt.
