No Lefties In The Rotation: Should We Care?

[jorgenswest]

Nine of Twelve made this observation that interested me.

 

 

I'll make this observation. It's rare for a team to have a significant postseason run with no left handed starting pitcher. It would not surprise me to see the front office trade for one if the team looks strong during the month of July.

 

It is clearly rare to make a significant postseason run without a left handed starting pitcher. I am guessing it is also rare to finish outside of the playoffs without a left handed starting pitcher. Are teams without left handed starters less likely to make the playoffs?

 

In the 2000s, three teams have made it to the world series without a left handed starter (each had one spot start in the season by a lefty).  There have 18 such regular season teams with 0 or 1 left handed starts over the season in that time span. Making it through the season without anything more than a single spot start by a lefty is rare. It doesn't appear to make it less likely that a team will advance to the world series (3 in 18 is better than 2 in 30),

 

The Twins need to go with their best starters regardless of whether they are left handed or right handed. It didn't stop the 2004 Red Sox, 2004 Cardinals or 2016 Indians from advancing to the world series. It won't be the reason that keeps the Twins out either.

[notoriousgod71]

I'd rather have Lance Lynn than Mejia.

 

I don't think it helps to have a lefty just for the sake of having one. How many of these teams had a mediocre lefty?

[drivlikejehu]

This is a non-topic. Most teams have a lefty starter just based on the fact that there are a significant number of left-handed pitchers in baseball . . . it has no greater significance.

[Craig Arko]

Allan Anderson did not exactly light up the league in 1991.

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=anderal02

[Puckett34]

I want the best possible starting 5 rotation the Twins can have.    If that includes having not a single 1 LHP, so be it.    Hopefully the front office feels the same way.

[Nine of twelve]

I want the best possible starting 5 rotation the Twins can have.

Me too, but if I have six starters of approximate equal ability, one left handed and five right, I'll install the lefty in the rotation and drop one of the righties.

[kab21]

This isn't a big deal and perhaps one of the more overrated things in baseball.

Looking at this a little further though. The Indians are the only team in the AL Central that has a very strong lefty lineup (just a quick analysis). So having a strong righty rotation will be a benefit in 75% of the divisional games which is relevant due to the unbalanced schedule.

 

It might be a tough year facing the Twins main competition for the division title though. Of course, the first two pitchers up from the farm system this year are lefties (*** perhaps Slegers beats Gonsalves up).

[ToddlerHarmon]

 

Me too, but if I have six starters of approximate equal ability, one left handed and five right, I'll install the lefty in the rotation and drop one of the righties.

 

So are we in that spot?  Is Mejia good enough to bounce Gibson?  I wouldn't be surprised if it happens by mid-season.

[jimmer]

No.  then again, I'm hoping Gibson is bounced from the rotation.  Mejia or Gonsalves taking Gibson's spot would make this question moot

[Riverbrian]

There are times when it is nice to have a lefty but it isn't completely necessary. 

 

If you consider that rotation and keeping starters on schedule trumps adjusting the rotation to force a lefty to start against the lefty heavy team.  It probably doesn't matter that much. 

 

Starters got to get through them all for at least a couple of times through the rotation. It's hard to platoon the starter... they gotta get both sides of the plate out. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Maybe we could sign a pitcher who is amphibious. 

[Puckett34]

 

Maybe we could sign a pitcher who is amphibious. 

 

He's probably a bit of a toad though

[specialiststeve]

 

I'd rather have Lance Lynn than Mejia.

 

I don't think it helps to have a lefty just for the sake of having one. How many of these teams had a mediocre lefty?

 

I would much rather had Mejia than Gibson. How many years have we seen the same thing? Misses right down the middle all the time.... Mejia has more upside for the present and the future. Maybe we can move Gibson for a prospect.... likely an A baller but time to move on....

[TheLeviathan]

No.

[bird]

 

Allan Anderson did not exactly light up the league in 1991.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=anderal02

 

That was fun, clicking on this link. Back in an era when wins MEANT something, Allan compiled 16 and 17 wins, gave us 200 IP's in back to back seasons and earned $200k and $300 k respectively. Then, he hoodwinks them into giving him the big bucks, $785k, and lays an egg. Got too fat and happy. You can't trust those leftys.

[strumdatjaguar]

Next year, Michael Pineda will ne back, another right hander.   But Gonsalves, a lefty should be ready. 

[ashbury]

I don't want left handed starters. I want starters who can get left handed batters out.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, not too worried here. I still think Mejia comes north for now anyways, but even if he doesn't, both Mejia and Gonsalves will be spending time in the rotation this year baring injury.

[notoriousgod71]

 

I would much rather had Mejia than Gibson. How many years have we seen the same thing? Misses right down the middle all the time.... Mejia has more upside for the present and the future. Maybe we can move Gibson for a prospect.... likely an A baller but time to move on....

 

I'd move Mejia to the pen. We can't have a starter averaging less than 5 innings per start. We just can't.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'd move Mejia to the pen. We can't have a starter averaging less than 5 innings per start. We just can't.

What if it's possible for a player to improve upon his rookie season?

[kab21]

 

What if it's possible for a player to improve upon his rookie season?

Yes, I don't understand these continual comments about Mejia. It is a concern but let's not blow this out of proportion.

[Darius]

It's an advantage in the AL.

 

List of RH/switch hitters in AL:

 

Mookie Betts

Giancarlo Stanton

Aaron Judge

Gary Sanchez

Jonathan Schoop

Adam Jones

Jose Altuve

George Springer

Francisco Lindor

Jose Ramirez

Edwin Encarnacion

Elvis Andrus

Mike Trout

Justin Upton

Nelson Cruz

Jose Abbreu

Avasail Garcia

Miguel Cabrera

Nick Castellanos

Salvador Perez

Whit Merrifield

 

I'm sure there's more in missing. It's basically the top 20 of any statistical offensive leaderboard. There are almost no left handed hitters to be overly concerned about. I'd rather stay away from throwing out too many lefties against a lot of AL teams.

[Darius]

This isn't a big deal and perhaps one of the more overrated things in baseball.

 

Looking at this a little further though. The Indians are the only team in the AL Central that has a very strong lefty lineup (just a quick analysis). So having a strong righty rotation will be a benefit in 75% of the divisional games which is relevant due to the unbalanced schedule.

 

It might be a tough year facing the Twins main competition for the division title though. Of course, the first two pitchers up from the farm system this year are lefties (*** perhaps Slegers beats Gonsalves up).

The Indians strong lefty lineup is largely based on Lindor and Ramirez, both of whom switch hit anyway. Not much you can do in terms of matchups. In fact, when you throw a lefty you then have Ramirez, Lindor, an. Encarnacion to contend with. I'd probably like my chances stacking righties against them more than lefties.

[stringer bell]

The most vulnerable team to LH pitching in the AL? That would be the biggest OPS disparity between OPS facing right handed pitching and left handed pitching. I’m guessing it will be the Twins in 2018.

[rdehring]

 

Yes, I don't understand these continual comments about Mejia. It is a concern but let's not blow this out of proportion.

I have frequently commented about my questioning whether Mejia should be in the rotation.  Although not pitching deep into games is a concern, my main concern was his weight and lack of athleticism.  Just didn't like his not being able to cover 1st base when he needed to.  

 

I understand that he reported to spring training 15 pounds lighter...that's good.  Now lets see if it helps him play better defense.

[amjgt]

I wonder if analytically, it's actually an advantage to have all starters of the same throwing hand. Part of the equation would be hard to quantify (the coaching part), but stay with me here

 

Teams are platooning more than ever. Teams are doing it because they feel they can play matchups and over the course of a season derive a net advantage my playing players against the opposite handed pitcher. OK. Makes sense. But what is a manager going to do if there's no opportunity to platoon? Is he going to sit the bad matchup all three games of the series against us? Doubt it. I would think that at least one of those games, he'd feel the need to play the lesser matchup, to "keep his guys fresh" (or whatever coach-speak he might use).

 

If the Twins had a series against 3 lefties, would Molitor sit Kepler, in favor of Grossman for the whole series? Doubt it. 

 

Also, do we think it's a coincidence that Cleveland, where Falvey came from had all RH pitcher at the end of his time there (and still).

[raindog]

Chance are with injuries, Mejia will be in the rotation most of the year. Don't expect Hughes to last long so Mejia will be next man up. 

[lukeduke1980]

 

He's probably a bit of a toad though

Hideki Irabu?

[ahart10]

It’s cause the Dodgers have all the starting lefties.

[stringer bell]

I dispute that managers are platooning now more than ever. It just isn’t feasible with 3 and 4-man benches. I remember Gene Mauch strictly platooning three or four positions. How many do the current Twins platoon now? Answer—whole number less than one.

 

Ideally, teams want to have a bench with players both flexible enough to cover more than one position and who hit from the opposite side of the regular player. For the Twins that would be a righty hitter to back up Kepler/Rosario and another RH hitter behind Mauer and Morrison.