Friday, March 1, 2019

Update: 2019 Yankees and Too Many Damn Right-Handed Batters?



We wrote this article back in the beginning of the offseason, but a lot has changed between then and now. The Yankees have added even MORE right-handed hitting to the club. Does it matter? And do the New York Yankees have “too many damn right-handed batters” in their lineup? The fans say one thing, but the stats may say another.

Gary Sanchez:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP2568447511201933605113172200.257.331.509.839
vs LHP123286246445813020543872.236.339.533.872
Gary Sanchez actually hits right-handed pitching better than he does left-handed pitching. By a lot actually.



Luke Voit:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP88199176304911010332053.278.362.511.873
vs LHP438681182530921421.309.349.6791.028
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Luke, albeit in a small sample size, is better against left-handed pitching, but he has definitely held his own against right-handed pitching as well.



Greg Bird:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP1695094485192271236950134.205.291.424.715
vs LHP821501281831508281839.242.340.469.809
Greg Bird has some interesting splits... he seemingly hits better against left-handed pitching better than he does against right-handed pitching, but again... in a smaller sample size. I included Bird because he could win the starting first base job out of spring over Voit, giving the Yankees one less right-handed bat to worry about.

Gleyber Torres:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP120350313378713013512883.278.341.444.785
vs LHP6513411817303111261439.254.336.576.912
Gleyber Day happens a lot more frequently against right-handed pitching than left-handed pitching, even as a right-handed batter.



DJ LeMahieu:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP855275325043507311122032243191434.292.343.391.734
vs LHP450104694115129551111710687143.313.369.445.814
LeMahieu not only handles righties as well as he does lefties, but he also has power to the opposite field and can take full advantage of the short porch inside Yankee Stadium as a right-handed hitting second baseman.


Didi Gregorius:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP716221820272815471011481269140303.270.320.453.773
vs LHP41882074589192303138744125.258.311.358.669
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Didi handles right-handed pitching well and should be back by late-July or early August, and that may be on the conservative side. He is already throwing and could be hitting soon, if he's not already. Didi is left-handed, so that only helps the "too many right-handed bats" when he returns. 



Troy Tulowitzki:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP121540093582562101719019162579350696.284.351.483.834
vs LHP6091393121119937273562200159200.307.389.529.919
Troy does better against left-handed pitching, but has held his own throughout his career against right-handed pitching as well. Just make it through spring healthy... then we'll talk.


Miguel Andujar:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP1434384186313033120721568.311.338.538.876
vs LHP8317616220441617241129.272.318.512.831
Miguel Andujar kills everyone, but it is especially helpful when you can kill same-side pitching like Miguel does.





Aaron Judge:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP28495580017222837267163138301.285.391.588.978
vs LHP1423162394356111162874101.234.421.490.910
MY right fielder.


Brett Gardner:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP1191393434256049061534679331414698.265.348.405.754
vs LHP75115111304186326511517119147304.250.333.351.684
Gardner will likely get a lot of reps in left field this season, so it helps that is a left-handed bat that can handle both sides of pitching almost equally as well. Gardner does better against right-handed pitching, which both makes sense and helps the club as a whole.



Aaron Hicks:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP5241551132919730751943159190306.231.328.380.708
vs LHP31368059886147281278175146.246.329.431.761
Switch hitter and the Yankees new $70 million man. It is what it is since he bats from both sides of the plate.


Giancarlo Stanton:

ISplitGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
vs RHP10853694322550283716672235724071086.260.347.523.870
vs LHP488112296017528570482200150263.297.393.6341.027
So, in closing, the New York Yankees will be fine with all their right-handed bats. Would a bat like Bryce Harper have helped the Yankees? Sure, but not solely because he is left-handed. Harper gets on base, hits for power, AND hits right-handed hitting (seen below for fun). Without Harper, though, the Yankees should be just fine here in 2019. Relax, breathe, and remember that it’s still only February.




Bryce Harper Career Splits:

I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
vs RHP8522782230446166312212147369436551.288.402.543.944
vs LHP5871175100214925961637152149283.258.354.442.796

Bryce Harper KILLS right-handed pitching and would have fit PERFECTLY in with the Yankees. Oh, what could have been.





*All stats are courtesy of Baseball Reference, and all stats reference CAREER stats.

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