Bashing to bunting: A’s turning to the sacrifice more frequently
You’ve heard of the “Swingin’ A’s.” Are these the “Buntin’ A’s”?
On Sunday, the Oakland Athletics recorded three sacrifice hits (bunts) in a 4-1 loss to the Angels — their most in a game since 2013. They awoke Monday tied for the most sacrifices (seven) among AL teams.
In 2019, the A’s totaled seven sacrifice bunts — all season. In 2018, they had six.
A change in offensive approach? Not so fast, manager Mark Kotsay said.
“I think it’s too quick to assume that just from (Sunday’s) game or the fact that we’re utilizing the bunt a little more,” Kotsay said before Monday’s game against the Twins. “Guys are trying to get on base. Guys are using (the bunt) as a weapon.”
Kevin Smith, Chad Pinder and Tony Kemp had sacrifices Sunday. Smith looked to be bunting for a hit after Elvis Andrus’ leadoff single in the second inning. Pinder bunted with men on first and second and no outs in the third with the A’s down 2-0. Kemp bunted after Cristian Pache’s leadoff walk in the seventh in a 2-1 game.
“We’re trying to do things to generate runs,” Kotsay said. “We haven’t been successful in certain aspects of the fundamentals of offense, per se, in getting runs in. We left quite a few on base (Sunday). But in that particular game ... I felt like getting those guys in scoring position and giving us a chance to tie the game with a hit was the right thing to do and I’m comfortable with the sacrifice bunt.”
Pinder said he bunted on his own in the third inning that produced Oakland’s lone run. It moved Jed Lowrie to third base, from where he scored when Sean Murphy grounded out sharply to shortstop.
Pinder noted that both Angels starter Patrick Sandoval and A’s starter Frankie Montas appeared to be locked in, putting runs at a premium: “You’re comfortable in the third there scratching one (run) and trying to get a little momentum. Just trying to capitalize on the situation and really make sure I got those guys over into scoring position.”
In recent seasons, A’s teams rarely employed the bunt. The A’s had 17 sacrifice bunts in 2021, tied for fifth most in the AL. From 2012 through ‘19, they did not finish a season higher than 11th in the AL in sacrifices.
“In terms of our ability to slug over the last few seasons, we’ve had that ability,” Kotsay said. “It’s not that we don’t have the ability to slug (this year), but across the league, power numbers are down. There’s talk of the ball not flying, and I think some of that talk is true.”
Entering Monday, the MLBwide .234 batting average would be a record low for a full season, and the .376 slugging percentage would be the lowest since 1989. The A’s ranked last in average (.200) and slugging (.309).
“Obviously, there’s something — I don’t know if it’s different — with the balls, or home runs are down, I would assume, so you’re going to have to find different ways to manufacture runs,” Pinder said.
“We don’t have those guys in the heart of our order that are getting tons of homers, so just trying to manufacture runs if we can. Obviously, there’s a time and place for it — it’s nothing that we’ve talked about changing. I think it’s just situationally based.”
Pinder said he thinks it’s “too much of a generalization” to say the A’s are taking more of a smallball approach right now.
“I think that (Angels) series, there were a lot of balls that were hit hard by our team that were just right at guys,” Pinder said. “Maybe we just missed a big hit here and there. I would say it’s a little too early to kind of generalize that we’re changing our game plan.”
Briefly: Stephen Vogt (right knee sprain) took on-field batting practice Monday for the first time since his April 20 injury. Vogt also ran sprints in the outfield pregame and said he has resumed catching work. Kotsay said the A’s don’t have a timetable for Vogt’s return. ... Sheldon Neuse was out of the lineup for a second straight game with groin tightness but was available off the bench, Kotsay said.