The Bunt: Good Idea and Bad Execution? Or Just a Bad Idea?

I love Topper, the Phillies manager, but I think crucial decisions in the first two games of the National League Division Series contributed greatly to Phillies losses.

In Game 1, Topper brought back David Robertson, perhaps the fourth-best pitcher available, to start the 7th inning. Shohei Ohtani would bat third. Why not Aaron Nola or even Jhoan Duran there?

In Game 2 Monday night, with the score 4-3 Dodgers, Nick Castellanos on second base, and Bryson Stott batting, Topper called for a bunt.

I flinched immediately, but let's go Phils. The Dodgers threw out Castellanos at third base.

I asked three friends, all of whom played and/or coached the game, what they thought.

Bunt or no bunt, one friend said, pinch-run for Nick C, one of the slowest runners on the team.

A second friend liked the play but acknowledged that bunting is a seldom-used art in 21st-century baseball.

The last friend, a college head coach for 25 years, said: Never. At minimum, the left-handed batter can pull the ball to the right side and advance the runner. Even better, he can hit safely.

That was my initial reaction. In a tie game, I can see a bunt. Losing? I'm not willing to give up outs.

What do you think?