Glossary

Fake bunt and take

A fake bunt and take is a play in which the batter squares to bunt and then pulls the bat back and lets the pitch go, to see how the defense covers a bunt or to draw the infield in.

The batter shows bunt early, as the pitcher starts the delivery, then takes the bat back and does not swing. Nobody runs. The point is what the defense does: which corners charge, who covers first, whether the shortstop or second baseman goes to second. The coach watches that rotation and uses it on the next pitch, for a real bunt, a slash or a steal.

It also moves the infield. A third baseman who has charged on one fake starts the next pitch a step closer to the plate, which opens the line for a hard ground ball and makes a later fake bunt and slash more dangerous. Against a young pitcher, a batter squaring can be enough to pull the next pitch out of the zone.

Because nobody else moves on it, it is a sign only the batter needs. On a wristband it is its own call, Fake Bunt + Take, next to the fake bunt and steal and the fake bunt and slash, so the batter knows exactly which fake to show.

When to call it

Early in the game, to see the other team's bunt coverage before a real bunt.
A 2-0 or 3-1 count, where a take costs nothing and the pitcher has to throw a strike.
Setting up a fake bunt and slash on the next pitch, with the corners already charging.

Put it on a card: Baseball and softball signs.

Sample wristband and cheat sheet

Sample fake bunt and take wristband card in a wristband: a numbered grid of signs with the Fake Bunt + Take sign highlighted — A wristband card with the Fake Bunt + Take sign in color. The coach calls a row and a number, and the player reads the play in that cell.

Sample fake bunt and take cheat sheet in a wristband: the key to the wristband's abbreviations, including Fake Bunt + Take — The cheat sheet for the same wristband: what each abbreviation on the card means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fake bunt with the bat over the plate a strike?

If the batter pulls the bat back in time and the pitch is out of the zone, it is a ball. If the bat is left over the plate as the pitch arrives, umpires can rule it an attempt, which is a strike.

What is the difference between a fake bunt and take and a fake bunt and steal?

On a fake bunt and take nobody runs; the fake only shows the defense's coverage or moves the infield. On a fake bunt and steal a runner goes on the pitch and the fake slows the catcher's throw.

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