A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.
There are two types of bunts. The first is the sacrifice bunt, in which the batter puts the ball into play with the intention of advancing a baserunner, in exchange for the batter being thrown out. The sacrifice bunt is most often used to advance a runner from first to second base, although the runner may also be advanced from second to third base. The sacrifice bunt is most often used in close, low-scoring games, and it is usually performed by weaker hitters, (and by pitchers in the National League). The squeeze play occurs when the batter bunts for the purpose of scoring a runner from third base. The squeeze play is a very audacious play, and to witness it is one of the most exciting experiences for the baseball fan.
A batter may also bunt for a base hit. This is not a sacrifice play, because the batter is trying to reach base safely, without any intention of advancing a runner. A batter may bunt for a base hit while there are runners on base. In this case, if the scorer judges that the intention of the batter was to bunt for a base hit, then the batter will not receive credit for a sacrifice bunt. Otherwise, a sacrifice bunt is not counted as an at-bat, and if a runner scores, the batter may be credited with an RBI.
Bunting is not easy. The primary goal in bunting is to put the ball in play as far from the fielders as possible. This requires not only physical dexterity and concentration, but also a knowledge of the fielders' positions, their relation to the baserunner or baserunners, and knowledge of the pitcher's most likely pitches.
A "swinging bunt" occurs when a poorly hit ball rolls a short distance into play, much like a bunt. A swinging bunt is often the result of a check-swing, and only has the appearance of a bunt. It is not a true bunt, and if the scorer judges that the batter intended to hit the ball, it cannot be counted as a sacrifice.
The bunt was introduced into the game by Dickey Pearce of the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1866, but was not common until the 1880s, and was not an accepted part of baseball strategy until the 20th century. The bunt has enjoyed periodic waves of acceptance and use throughout baseball history, coinciding with the periodic shifts of dominance between pitching and hitting over the decades. During periods of pitching dominance, for example during the dead-ball era or the 1960s, bunting was an important offensive weapon. However, during periods of hitting dominance, for example at the moment, the value of the bunt has often been questioned. The role of the bunt in baseball strategy is one of the perennial topics of discussion for baseball fans.
