Left Handed Pitching

by mckeeno on May 1, 2005 2:38 AM EDT

So I know that all things being equal, GMs generally prefer to acquire a left-handed pitching prospect.

Now, in broad generalities, I've always been led to believe that a right-handed pitcher will fare better against right-handed batters and left-handed pitchers will far better against left-handed batters.

With the majority of batters being right-handed, wouldn't it be advantageous to instead puruse a right-handed pitching prospect?

Are my assumptions false or is there some broader concept that I am missing?

thanks

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odd

Batters see a RHP more often than a LHP. So, it's harder for the hitter to get their timing down vs. a southie.

by Goodfella on May 1, 2005 4:26 AM EDT reply actions

too easy an explanation

That seems to simplistic.

Is there any data backing that up?

by mckeeno on May 1, 2005 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

It's easy because it's true.

Doesn't matter whether it seems like too simple an explanation, it's the truth. Hitting is timing, pitching is disrupting timing, any edge in disrupting a batter's timing is going to be advantageous. Lefties have a natural edge in that they're less common.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on May 1, 2005 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

proof

Do you have any statistical facts to base this on?

I feel like this might be a baseball "truth" that we've been told over and over again, but may not in actuality be true.

If a LHP may have an edge on a batter, why are there so many LOOGYs? Why not just leave them in to face the RH-batters as well?

by mckeeno on May 2, 2005 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Well,

Most "LOOGYs" do face right-handers. In fact, most wind up facing more righties than they do lefties(every pitcher does).

There's a nice series of articles on the history of the "LOOGY" at The Hardball Times. I believe they've got two parts up so far, with another one on the way.

by calig23 on May 2, 2005 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

It's not...

... something you can look at statistically. And in the case of 'baseball truths', they're going to remain Truths until you can prove otherwsie. It's like when you face a flamethrower like schilling for7 innings, then suddenly trotting out wakefield, it screws with your timing.
Go play the game for a while, then you'll understand.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on May 2, 2005 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

No Truths

There is no truth that LHP have a "natural" advantage. Stuff is stuff, doesn't matter which side you throw from. I saw a statistic recently that in the history of MLB the difference between AVG and OPS vs. RHP or LHP is in the thousandths. If I find that stat I'll be sure to share it.

Of course, there are going to always be certain pitchers who are tougher on RHB or LHB but typically their splits have a wide difference.

And I've played the game for awhile.

by HuskerBob on May 4, 2005 3:31 PM EDT reply actions