FanShot

Not only is sacrifice bunting dumb, but the Royals are bad at it

2

Fangraphs has a chart showing teams' net WPA from bunts. Only four teams had a positive net bunting WPA; for everyone else it's at best a wash. Or, in the worst case, you're the Royals, and you've already racked up -1.0 WPA this season from sacrificing. One full loss. Fourth worst in MLB. Alcides wins the prize for Worst Bunt of the Season so far, for an effort in which Ned apparently called for a squeeze with men on first and third, and he bunted back to the first baseman who nailed Frenchy at the plate. Cost the Royals -0.23 WPA. They won anyway.