Deluxe said:
Farmer1906 said:
let's add some data
wRC+ vs LHP
Team114 (7th best)
Altuve 212
McCormick 162 - does this warrant a part-time platoon in LF with Brantly?
Pena 148
Meyers 143 - only 15 PA, but hit lefties well last year too
Alvarez 137
Tucker 135
Brantly 116
Gurriel 112
Diaz 109
Bregman 80 - this is concerning. 100% should not be top 5 when facing a left-handed starter
Maldonado 70
--
Lee 93 (only 3 PA)
Matijevic -17 (only 5 PA)
wRC+ vs RHP
Team 120 (3rd best)
Alvarez 229
Bregman 153
Altuve 143
Tucker 142
Brantley 134
Meyers 121
Pena 113
McCormick 90
Gurriel 86
Diaz 76
Maldonado 54
--
Lee 218 (only 6 PA)
Matijevic 118 (only 25 PA)
I don't quite see the concern. We're probably one of the most balanced teams on paper. However, these few minutes of research shows we should be altering our lineup based on the starting pitching.
I would say no to another OFer, but Hell Yes to a lefty slugging 1B. I wonder if Lee would be an option at first when facing a RHP?
I hear ya. I narrowed my focus onto our main seven hitters. Obviously Chas hits lefties well but we've shown very little interest in platooning him and who knows if he'll be a factor for PT in the playoffs.
My main thing is wanting teams to think twice about bringing in a lefty to face the middle of our order. Right now it's too easy. Yordan and Bregman are both much much worse against lefties than righties. Cashman is probably looking to add another bullpen lefty right now for that reason alone.
I agree that we should separate Bregman and Yordan in the lineup and would also love to bring in a bat that pounds lefty pitching.
Kept looking.
Yordan is so damn good, he's got an argument for our best hitter vs lefties too. He has a ridiculous -.203 in xSLG vs SLG.
What really sticks out is Bregman having some serious bad luck too. For his career (including this year) his wRC+ vs L is 20 points higher than vs R. Maybe we're overblowing it. It'll all come out in the wash.
And for all this talk of unluckiness, Altuve, Chas, Pena, & Meyers have gotten luck vs lefties.
Circling back to the start. Go get a lefty bat and preferably one with a couple of years of control. If they truly ban the shift, lefties are going to see their value jump. Guys who can get lefties out will see a jump too so lets get some arms as well.