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Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:05PM, luvdayanks wrote:

Just wondering if anyone thinks the lefty vs lefty and righty vs righty mix and match is overhyped, besides me. With the type of pitches pitchers throw now, cutter, 2 seam, 4 seam, slider, IMO a pitcher should be able to get lefties or righties out.

I think its over-hyped for the most part. There are certain times, depending on the pitcher and batter, where  it makes sense. If you look at Logan's splits from last year you will notice LHB's had an OBP of .328. RHB's had the same .328 OBP. The big difference was that lefties had 4 homers and righties had 0. On an overall statistical level their wasn't much difference. However certain batters may have fared better or worse.

Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:31PM, newinn wrote:

But if you look at a guy like Rapada with that delivery I ould see why righthanders would light him up with the ball coming into them. Same with Eppler and his ball running in on lefties. All depends on the pitcher I guess

Yes, that's true. Although RH hitters are only batting .238 against him. He walks too many righties though which runs his OBP against righties up to .407.

Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:27PM, 61in61 wrote:

Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:05PM, luvdayanks wrote:

 The big difference was that lefties had 4 homers and righties had 0. On an overall statistical level their wasn't much difference. However certain batters may have fared better or worse.

perhaps that's because he faced 8x the amount of lefties that he did righties.

Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:27PM, 61in61 wrote:

Jul 4, 2012 -- 9:05PM, luvdayanks wrote:

Just wondering if anyone thinks the lefty vs lefty and righty vs righty mix and match is overhyped, besides me. With the type of pitches pitchers throw now, cutter, 2 seam, 4 seam, slider, IMO a pitcher should be able to get lefties or righties out.

I think its over-hyped for the most part. There are certain times, depending on the pitcher and batter, where  it makes sense. If you look at Logan's splits from last year you will notice LHB's had an OBP of .328. RHB's had the same .328 OBP. The big difference was that lefties had 4 homers and righties had 0. On an overall statistical level their wasn't much difference. However certain batters may have fared better or worse.

Those HR stats are skewed because Logan faces a lot more lefties than righties.  Last year he was more of a LOOGY than he was this year, and he was often brought in specifically just to face lefties, and then was removed when the righty batter came up.  That, and the fact that the lefties he was brought in to face were often power guys like Ortiz or Carlos Pena.