The Lefty-Righty Factor

[KG Erwin]

As my season progresses, I've started leaning on the vs left and vs right stats a bit more. As in real-life, handedness doesn't necessarily weigh heavily on performance. I think this is interesting, and it provides more food for thought in determining who the best pinch-hitter or reliever might be in a given game situation.

I look at my Dodgers, and for some players, the lefty-righty differences are pronounced. For others, it matters little. Then, there's the extremes of a lefty performing better vs a lefty.

Is handedness simply an identifying factor, or does it really affect the player's "performance profile" in-game? The evidence that I've seen shows that there IS an effect, but the amount of variance differs for each player.

[Frozen Stiffer]

I'm glad you've brought this out, KG. I touched on it a while back and forgot to elaborate.

Looking at my real-world Marlins replay association, I must confess- I do not see a difference when it comes to handedness. I have lefty relievers with a lower batting average against right handers and righty relievers that are un-hittable against lefty batters. When I decide who will come in as relief, I am really looking at that pitcher's performance thus far this year and their overall numbers. I honestly never even glance at whether they throw L or R anymore. There may exist, buried in code and random algorithms and a mass of variables, something that says lefties hit righties better and vice-versa. However, I have yet to see it.

From the perspective of hitters, it's pretty much the same as you mentioned. On average, good hitters hit well, bad hitters hit poorly; irrelevant of what arm the pitchers throw the ball with. Granted, there are a few batters that have notably higher averages against right-handers than with left-handers, but I lean on the fact that this is only because of greater exposure; batters overall face more right-handed pitchers, thus having more stat-generating experiences against them than against left-handed pitching.

I must be honest and say that when it comes time to pinch-hit, the only thing I look at is "Who is the best available hitter on the bench?"- I do not look at "Do they have a left-handed pitcher or a right-handed pitcher?".

That's just my opinion, I welcome yours.

[GNDN]

I kind of take the same pinch-hitting approach FS does:  who is my best pinch hitter at that paricualr point in the game?
 
On the pitching side, I look at my relievers and see who does well against a particular handedness over the course of a season.  I also play a real-world association  with the 2007 Mets.  Over the course of the year, I had a couple of lefties that excelled at getting righties out and vice versa.  My selection critereia for a reliever is simple:  can you get the batter out?  I do not care if you drop kick the ball to the plate, I need that batter out. 
 
Inside a regular season series, I try to mix my pitchers up.  I believe the AI does pay attention to trends so I try not to expose my pitchers too much to prevent in depth scouting.

[KG Erwin]

IF I make it to the World Series, I'll study this issue (if it indeed exists) more closely. There's a natural tendency for me to play the numbers, and start relying on a balance between season stats and PS ratings. That being said, I can never discount a gut feeling. [;)]

[Frozen Stiffer]

KG,

Did you make it to the big game? I'm curious to see if you noticed any of the above-mentioned differences.

Until I am proven otherwise, I will remain of the mindset that in Puresim at least, handedness does not matter. I say this not based on opinion but on numerical and statistical fact shown in my players' performance. However, I am most eager to learn of someone else's observations.

[KG Erwin]

OK, it appears that handedness has no effect on performance. I examined the XML, and there is no reference to L vs R anywhere in there.

There ARE a host of other factors, including the batter's position in the order (whoa! I never realized that). THAT alone could have an effect on BA vis a vis BB and IBB. I use Jackie Robinson as my leadoff man, which was NOT his usual spot in the order in real life. So, he draws fewer walks and is more likely to get a clean hit. That also explains why I sometimes see the AI putting its best OBP guy in the number 1 slot.

[motnahp]

Most of my PS experience has been from the Commish/GM point-of-view, but I've managed enough games now to offer up an opinion.

I haven't seen any noticeable difference in L vs L, L vs R, etc. I still, as if brainwashed from years of hearing about this, normally go with the lefty hitter against the righty pitcher, and so on. I even make out my lineups accordingly.

With my 1979 & 1980 A's, though, they have so many regulars who are lefty batters, I can't take them all out of the lineup. I still usually end up with 3 lefty batters against a lefty pitcher. Since my bench is less than stellar, the options are few.

As far as the relief pitching goes, they've all been crap most of the time. It seems as if they'd have a hard time retiring a lineup full of 60-year-old comedy actors!

Let me hijack this thread for a moment to add something to the wish list. I would love the option of bringing in a position player to pitch in relief. I've had many games with my 79-80 A's where a Mickey Klutts or Rob Picciolo could have done just as horrible of a job as a "real" relief pitcher. At least I could have saved an arm or two for when it really mattered.

To make this more fun, I would suggest that such players' pitching ratings be completely hidden. That way, the manager would not have any idea what to expect (just like real MLB). The ratings would need to randomly change if the guy was used more than once, though. The sneaky and devious managers among us might use a guy and see him strike out the side. Guess who then gets the call to save the next game? I say give them an END of 1 and make all other ratings hidden.

Whaddya think, KG?

[KG Erwin]

Respectfully, motnahp, I'd say no to your idea. Look -- in baseball, crazy stuff just happens. My bullpen has sometimes been stellar, and at other times can't even get the peanut vendor out. [8|]

This doesn't mean that you'd let an outfielder pitch an inning, unless he was Roy Hobbs. [;)]

[motnahp]

.......or maybe Rick Ankiel, perhaps. Certainly not Jose Canseco.[:D]

[LetsPlay2]

ORIGINAL: motnahp

.......or maybe Rick Ankiel, perhaps. Certainly not Jose Canseco.[:D]

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