The Left-handed and Switch Batters against the Left-handed pitchers.

The Left-handed and Switch Batters against the Left-handed pitchers.
By: Elvio Gutierrez Santana, M.Sc., MIB.

04/02/2006

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Traditionally it has been used to use the left-handed Pitchers, to mainly neutralize the power or the effectiveness of a left-handed or ambidextrous batter in the baseball and in MLB.

This fact, for some people do not have too much importance. Nevertheless, he can mainly have many games that are had lost for neutralizing a left-handed or switch batter, when these players are regular in the team. For example, the Cleveland Indians team lost around 25 games against left-handed pitchers, two in roll of relief, partly because they have important left-handed batters like Grady Sizemore and Ben Broussard whom although they bat on 300 points, its averages against left-handed pitchers are around or below 200 and also by the youth of some important right batters that they can have certain weaknesses against left-handed pitchers, although also is necessary to recognize that their pitchers face difficulties at the present time.

Moreover, Boston Red Sox lost around 25 games versus left hander pitchers and in three games have won just scores seven runs. It means Boston have weakness against left hander pitchers, even though David Ortiz is not weak now against LHP.

This fact, observing some left-handed players who never have been weak against left-handed people, other who have stopped being weak and other that are inconsistent. It is to say, in one season are weak and other no. They lead me to analyze the left-handed and switch batters in the MLB in the last three years, with the purpose of looking for a solution that contributes to make more productive the left-handed and switch batters against left-handed pitchers.

The methodology was to analyze around 450 players who are the left-handed and switch batters; they were in the listing of 40 players of each team in MLB. Of this single group 277 they had sufficient statistics. That is to say, 180 players none analyzed exist about, but who by their youth could be assumed preservative that 60 % of them are weak.

The analysis period is from the 2003 to the 2005, because it is the period of data available. I consider myself that a batter is not weak when bats over 270 at least in two years or consisting of one and over 270 in the 2005. It is consistent when he bats between 270 and 250 against left-handed pitchers, and weak when the average of batting against left-handed batters is below 250 and/or their average against RHP surpasses in 30 points its average against LHP in two years.

The found results are really interesting of the universe of 277 players, single a 18% of the greater players of 5 years in MLB are not weak against LHP, standing out: Barry Bonds, Ichiro Suzuki, Sean Casey, Garret Anderson, Nick Johnson, Kenny Lofton, Mark Kotsay and Todd Helton, although this single batting for 244 in the 2005 against LHP by problem of injuries.

Between the Switches ones we have to Luis Castillo, Jason Varitex, Carlos Beltran, Lances Berkman, Alex Cintron, Carlos Guillen, Jose Jr Cross, among others. The player’s non weak minors of 5 years represent single 10% of the left-handed players and ambidextrous, among them they stand out: Hideki Matsui, Mark Texeira, Jose Reyes, Chris Duffy, Mike Jacob, Robinson Cano, Chong Figgins and Victor Martinez. But some of these results must be taken with taken care of by the youth of some players like Chris Duffy; its average against left-handed people at the moment is of 063.

The left-handed and ambidextrous Batters are weak against left-handed pitchers over 5 years in MLB represent 15% of the total of players between whom are players of importance like J.D. Drew, Bernie William, Shawn Green, Cliff Floyd, Trot Nixon, Doug Mientkiewicz, Ryan Klesko, Adam Dunn, Jim Thome, Orlando Palmeiro, Ben Grieve, Javier Valentin, Carlos Pena, Russell Brayan, A. J. Pierzynsky, David Delucci, Matt Lawton and Felipe Lopez among others.

The left-handed batters and ambidextrous minors of five years in MLB weak against left-handed pitchers, represent 41% of the total, about 112 players between whom they are Grady Sizemore, Chad Tracy, Orlando Hudson, Nick Switcher, Hee Seo.Choi, Justin Morneau, Hank Blalock, Jeremy Hermida, Maicer Izturis, Ryan Howard, Dallas McPherson, Russ Adams, Adam Laroche, and Adrian Gonzalez among others.

Many of these players have not gotten to settle down in great leagues by this weakness.

The weakest teams against the left-handed pitchers are the Cleveland Indians, Diamondback of Arizona, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Finally, the consistent batters with more than five years represent 14% of the total of analyzed players and with less than five years 2%. Within this group some players exist who have limitations against left-handed pitchers.

But the important thing of all the investigation is that through the analysis of structural conjuncture of the batters and pitchers, the statistical use of tool, reading players biographies observing the facts in the fields of training, I have an innovating solution that can solve significantly and inclusively to eliminate in a relatively short period compared with the improvement that has some players after the fifth year in MLB is not automatic just 25% did. The fact is successful in some players of MLB have made the adjustments and the refinement of the discovered solution ensures the success of the same one.

In addition, the solution I have commented it with my brothers who no single are understood in baseball to have played and to give pursuit him to the same one from children like me, (For example, my smaller brother was left-handed pitchers and was member of the Champion Team of O&M University in Dom. Rep. in 1995), also they can understand about on statistical tools and the positive psychological effect that the measurement has on the players and shares with me the success of the solution to this type of disadvantage.

To the interested organizations or players, in the innovation please to contact me to (829) 887-3376, (809) 565-2135 or elviogs@yahoo.com.