Sandberg. Really?

[R-V]

I know there's virtually nothing else to judge him on, but is Sandberg's minor leage managing necessarily indicative of how he will manage in the big leagues? For example, presumably there would be more of an emphasis in the minors on bunting, stealing, etc., and other ways of "playing the game the right way" that most sabremetricians hate.  But maybe it's necessary to do these things more often in the minors to teach the lil tykes how to execute successfully what the manager wants done (damn the consequences to the teams's chances to win the game).  

Please, God, let that be why Sandberg bunts in the first inning.

I guess I look at it the opposite way.  The primary focus of the minor leagues is to get young players as many at-bats as possible so they get better.  Any any time a player bunts, that's a wasted at-bat in terms of the player's development.  I suppose it's useful to have guys bunt in game situations, but bunting is far easier than hitting.  Save it for practice.

But all indications are that Sandberg thinks that bunting is some sort of way to honor and respect the Game of Baseball.  His Hall of Fame speech indicates that pretty clearly:

These guys sitting up here did not pave the way for the rest of us so that players could swing for the fences every time up and forget how to move a runner over to third, it's disrespectful to them, to you, and to the game of baseball that we all played growing up. Respect.

A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation. I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do, play it right and with respect.

If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera.

And just for posterity's sake, Sandberg had 31 sacrifice bunts in 9,282 career plate appearances.

Didn't Rozner supposedly write Sandberg's entire HOF speech? Or am I misremembering?

[Chuck to Chuck]

Please, God, let that be why Sandberg bunts in the first inning.

But all indications are that Sandberg thinks that bunting is some sort of way to honor and respect the Game of Baseball.

Add in Yeti's "I have heard..."

From where have we heard?  What indications?

In 2007, the Peoria Chiefs were 3rd in the Midwest League in sacrifice bunts.
In 2008, they were 2nd.
In 2009, the Tennessee Smokies were 2nd in the Southern League.
In 2010, the Iowa Cubs are 8th in the Pacific Coast League. They have 40, and are on pace for 60, in 144 games.

And I heard it from some guy on the Score who said he was following Sandberg's progress over there. That's all I had to go off of. A little research gave me those numbers.

So right now the Iowa Cubs are 8th out of 16 teams.  That doesn't sound like a significant number, or one I should be concerned about.

Do we know what inning they were made?  Do we know by what position in the batting order?

[Eli]

Do we know what inning they were made?  Do we know by what position in the batting order?

Every single one was made by the cleanup hitter in the first inning, with a man at first and one out.

[Richard Chuggar]

Do we know what inning they were made?  Do we know by what position in the batting order?

Every single one was made by the cleanup hitter in the first inning, with a man at first and one out.

When was the last time you were in a fist fight?

[Powdered Toast Man]

Please, God, let that be why Sandberg bunts in the first inning.

But all indications are that Sandberg thinks that bunting is some sort of way to honor and respect the Game of Baseball.

Add in Yeti's "I have heard..."

From where have we heard?  What indications?

In 2007, the Peoria Chiefs were 3rd in the Midwest League in sacrifice bunts.
In 2008, they were 2nd.
In 2009, the Tennessee Smokies were 2nd in the Southern League.
In 2010, the Iowa Cubs are 8th in the Pacific Coast League. They have 40, and are on pace for 60, in 144 games.

And I heard it from some guy on the Score who said he was following Sandberg's progress over there. That's all I had to go off of. A little research gave me those numbers.

So right now the Iowa Cubs are 8th out of 16 teams.  That doesn't sound like a significant number, or one I should be concerned about.

Except maybe for the other three seasons.

[Canadouche]

Do we know what inning they were made?  Do we know by what position in the batting order?

Every single one was made by the cleanup hitter in the first inning, with a man at first and one out.

When was the last time you were in a fist fight?

Tsk tsk, Eli isn't trying to prove his manhood.  Besides, Todd, it's not like I asked you if you'd won. 

[Yeti]

Please, God, let that be why Sandberg bunts in the first inning.

But all indications are that Sandberg thinks that bunting is some sort of way to honor and respect the Game of Baseball.

Add in Yeti's "I have heard..."

From where have we heard?  What indications?

In 2007, the Peoria Chiefs were 3rd in the Midwest League in sacrifice bunts.
In 2008, they were 2nd.
In 2009, the Tennessee Smokies were 2nd in the Southern League.
In 2010, the Iowa Cubs are 8th in the Pacific Coast League. They have 40, and are on pace for 60, in 144 games.

And I heard it from some guy on the Score who said he was following Sandberg's progress over there. That's all I had to go off of. A little research gave me those numbers.

So right now the Iowa Cubs are 8th out of 16 teams.  That doesn't sound like a significant number, or one I should be concerned about.

Do we know what inning they were made?  Do we know by what position in the batting order?

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

[Chuck to Chuck]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

[Yeti]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

This coming from the guy who hates the guy who's been worth his contract the 4 years he's been here

[Eli]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

[Internet Apex]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

Thank Christ.

[R-V]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

I like when InternetChuck sends people scurrying off to look up information that only he cares about.

[SKO]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

I like when InternetChuck sends people scurrying off to look up information that only he cares about.

That he'll just dismiss if it doesn't prove his point?

[Bort]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

I suppose Internet Eli will take Bill James' dick out of his mouth long enough to say this doesn't count.

[Eli]

I told you what you wanted. And now you want more? Jesus, Chuck, take Sandberg's dick out of your mouth.

You told us SOME of what we wanted.

The evidence is circumstantial at best.

Unfortunately, minor-league-baseball-sacrifice-bunts-by-inning is a stat that isn't kept.  So you can't fault anyone for not bringing you those stats.  It'd be like asking someone to bring you Matt Murton on a unicorn.  It's impossible.

I suppose Internet Eli will take Bill James' dick out of his mouth long enough to say this doesn't count.

What inning was he riding that unicorn?