The New York Yankees hit too many damn home runs, and now apparently,
they have too many damn right-handed hitters as well. This was the common theme
yesterday and for much of the offseason every time that Manny Machado is linked
to the Yankees as a free agent this offseason. Many fans are quick to point out
that not only does the team need more pitching, which I agree with
wholeheartedly, but that the team has too many right-handed hitters for it to
make sense signing Machado. The former I can agree with, and I think this will
ultimately be addressed whether Machado dons pinstripes next season or not, but
the latter I cannot. It is nice for a team to be able to alternate left-handed
and right-handed batters to keep an opposing manager on his toes in terms of
pitching changes and strategies, but it is even better when your right-handed
heavy offense can handle right-handed pitching just as well, or better than
they can handle left-handed pitching. Do the Yankees have this? Baseball
Reference has the answers.
Gary Sanchez:
Miguel Andujar:
Gleyber Torres:
Didi Gregorius:
Aaron Judge:
Aaron Hicks:
Giancarlo Stanton:
Manny Machado:
So, in closing. Do the New York Yankees have too many damn
right-handed batters, and would they if they added Manny Machado to third base
while moving Miguel Andujar to first base? The stats don’t usually lie, so the
consensus has to be simple. No, they don’t. If their right-handed batters
continue to hit right-handed pitching they could have nine right-handed batters
every single time out there and it just wouldn't matter. Are more balanced lineups ideal? Sure, no one would argue that. Should the Yankees add a left-handed bat to the lineup if they can and if it makes sense? Absolutely. But, if they cannot should the team stay away from a potent right-handed bat like Machado knowing that he, and many others in the lineup, hit RHP just as well or comparable to how they hit LHP? Absolutely not. Get Greedy, Get Manny.
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 256 | 844 | 751 | 120 | 193 | 36 | 51 | 131 | 72 | 200 | .257 | .331 | .509 | .839 | |
vs LHP | 123 | 286 | 246 | 44 | 58 | 13 | 20 | 54 | 38 | 72 | .236 | .339 | .533 | .872 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Gary hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
(Gary hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 143 | 438 | 418 | 63 | 130 | 33 | 20 | 72 | 15 | 68 | .311 | .338 | .538 | .876 | |
vs LHP | 83 | 176 | 162 | 20 | 44 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 11 | 29 | .272 | .318 | .512 | .831 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Miguel hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
(Miguel hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 120 | 350 | 313 | 37 | 87 | 13 | 13 | 51 | 28 | 83 | .278 | .341 | .444 | .785 | |
vs LHP | 65 | 134 | 118 | 17 | 30 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 14 | 39 | .254 | .336 | .576 | .912 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Gleyber hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
(Gleyber hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 716 | 2218 | 2027 | 281 | 547 | 101 | 81 | 269 | 140 | 303 | .270 | .320 | .453 | .773 | |
vs LHP | 418 | 820 | 745 | 89 | 192 | 30 | 13 | 87 | 44 | 125 | .258 | .311 | .358 | .669 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Didi hits better against RHP than he does LHP, granted he is a LHB)
(Didi hits better against RHP than he does LHP, granted he is a LHB)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 284 | 955 | 800 | 172 | 228 | 37 | 67 | 163 | 138 | 301 | .285 | .391 | .588 | .978 | |
vs LHP | 142 | 316 | 239 | 43 | 56 | 11 | 16 | 28 | 74 | 101 | .234 | .421 | .490 | .910 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Judge hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
(Judge hits better against RHP than he does LHP)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 524 | 1551 | 1329 | 197 | 307 | 51 | 43 | 159 | 190 | 306 | .231 | .328 | .380 | .708 | |
vs LHP | 313 | 680 | 598 | 86 | 147 | 28 | 27 | 81 | 75 | 146 | .246 | .329 | .431 | .761 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Aaron Hicks is a switch hitter that hits lefties better overall)
(Aaron Hicks is a switch hitter that hits lefties better overall)
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 1085 | 3694 | 3225 | 502 | 837 | 166 | 223 | 572 | 407 | 1086 | .260 | .347 | .523 | .870 | |
vs LHP | 488 | 1122 | 960 | 175 | 285 | 70 | 82 | 200 | 150 | 263 | .297 | .393 | .634 | 1.027 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
(Finally, a RHB on the Yankees that doesn't hit better against a lefty)
I have included Manny Machado for informational purposes only. I know Machado is not a Yankee, and I know there is no guarantee that he will be. Let’s assume that he becomes a Yankee for the sake of this post, although even without him the Yankees numbers as right-handed batters against right-handed pitching are good enough to prove my point without Manny. But still… Get Greedy… Get Manny.
(Finally, a RHB on the Yankees that doesn't hit better against a lefty)
I have included Manny Machado for informational purposes only. I know Machado is not a Yankee, and I know there is no guarantee that he will be. Let’s assume that he becomes a Yankee for the sake of this post, although even without him the Yankees numbers as right-handed batters against right-handed pitching are good enough to prove my point without Manny. But still… Get Greedy… Get Manny.
I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vs RHP | 882 | 2963 | 2710 | 376 | 763 | 141 | 137 | 400 | 209 | 509 | .282 | .333 | .491 | .824 | |
vs LHP | 453 | 1111 | 1010 | 146 | 287 | 70 | 38 | 113 | 87 | 160 | .284 | .342 | .474 | .816 |
Please, people. It is a long offseason already, don’t make
it even longer by speaking without at least doing a little bit of research. I
had one guy claim yesterday that he was right about Andujar’s defense at third
base after reading an article on another Yankees blog. The writer wasn’t a
scout, a manager, a coach, or even a member of the Yankees organization. Nope,
just another nerd (and I mean that in the best way possible) like myself in
front of a computer putting his opinions, speculations, and research out there
for all to read for free. His opinion does not prove your “theory” that Andujar
sucks defensively and will never improve, get over yourself before I have to
write a part two to my “Yankees Fans are the Worst” article. Stay classy, stay
informed, and thank you all for reading.
* all stats are career stats and are courtesy of Baseball Reference.
* all stats are career stats and are courtesy of Baseball Reference.
gdgdg
ReplyDeleteThanks, you too
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