I don't know about that MB. If you look at the odds of getting a guy in from 3rd - they are a lot higher than getting him in from 2nd, because there are more ways to do it. And seeing that Ichiro is a good bunter with good speed - maybe he makes it 1st and 3rd. Sometimes doing something unexpected is the right move. I remember a few years back that Brenley ripped some guy for bunting in the 8th inning of a no-hitter to get on base, but failed to acknowledge that the team was only down 1 or 2 runs at the time and needed a base-runner. In another case, had Torre not so stubbornly admitted that he was not going to bunt on Schilling in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS and take advantage of his 'ketchup sock'- perhaps the Yankees could have gotten a few guys on, and found a way to win that game as well. I am much more disturbed by guys going for the glory - ie. last year's ALCS Game 1 when Martin was swinging for the fences when the Yankees had a guy in scoring position in extra innings and he could have won the game with just a single. He threw away an AB.
But if he is unsuccessful, there are 2 outs and a guy on third. The out is more precious than moving up a base. But your point about glory swings is very true. One thing that has changed in the past few years is the approaches batters take to situational hitting.
