From the New York Daily News’ Peter Botte :
When is bunting for a base hit with runners on base a good idea? When it works, of course.
Take these two isolated incidents during the Mets’ 11-4 loss yesterday to Washington:
First-year manager Willie Randolph had no problem with $119 million slugger Carlos Beltran successfully dropping a bunt to set up Mike Piazza’s three-run double in the first inning. But he took issue with Kaz Matsui attempting to lay one down with two runners on in a 3-3 tie in the second, getting pitcher Victor Zambrano forced out at third base.
“Probably not a good idea,” Randolph said. “I didn’t put it on, but (Matsui) probably thought he could beat it for a hit. We’ve been asking him to do that more, but that was probably not the right time to do it. … But if he gets it down, we’re probably not even talking about it.”