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Post by jimed14 on May 12, 2015 10:04:49 GMT -5
There's no one to pinch hit for him! They had 3 LHH and a catcher on the bench last night. One more reason that Holt should be starting virtually every night, and also Vic should be on the bench. Holt has very neutral splits and I'd be pretty comfortable with him hitting for Sandoval versus a LHP, especially in situations where getting a single is extra important (e.g., tied game, two outs, runner on second). Totally agree, but I'd probably drop over dead in shock if Farrell actually used that thought process and made that decision. His decision making process is: 1) veteran not named Nava is up 2) let him hit
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danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 12, 2015 10:16:01 GMT -5
I don't understand why Sanoval hits righthanded at all. He couldn't possibly hit lHPs any worse if he battled lefthanded against them.
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nomar
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Posts: 10,907
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Post by nomar on May 12, 2015 10:20:24 GMT -5
I don't understand why Sanoval hits righthanded at all. He couldn't possibly hit lHPs any worse if he battled lefthanded against them. Yeah if you're literally twice as good from one side as you are in the other, you should stop batting from the other. He looks horrible vs LHP, worse than a lot of pitchers.
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Post by Legion of Bloom on May 12, 2015 10:20:50 GMT -5
I'd be very surprised if Victorino isn't gone by the end of this month. Hopefully Rusney can stay healthy and replace him soon.
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Post by jrffam05 on May 12, 2015 10:21:24 GMT -5
Panda's helplessness against LHP started in 2014, 2013 and 2012 he was at least league average against LHP.
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Post by mattpicard on May 12, 2015 10:37:47 GMT -5
So Pablo hasn't always been this helpless against left-handed pitching. Here's his BB%, K%, and wRC+ over the last five seasons: BB% K% wRC+ 2011 2.0 % 19.2 % 97 2012 5.8 % 13.1 % 107 2013 9.0 % 15.0 % 99 2014 5.4 % 15.1 % 59 2015 3.1 % 37.5 % -67 Some notable stuff: - “I was born lefty,” he explained. “I learned to throw right-handed when I was 9.” (Source). This doesn't tell us much, other than make you believe he should swing left-handed full time even more. - From this past offseason: "I've been working out all offseason working on my right-handed swing," Sandoval said. "I forgot about my left-handed. This is going to be a good challenge for me, especially in this new team, so I did all my work right-handed." - From spring training 2014: So the more attention he gives right-handed hitting, the worse he becomes? Right now, if the idea of scrapping it isn't imminent, he really needs to just start over entirely. So long as it doesn't interfere with anything he does from the left-side, it can't hurt. And if, for some reason, it would hurt his comfort batting left-handed, that's all the more reason to adopt it entirely.
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Post by jimed14 on May 12, 2015 10:49:54 GMT -5
It's pretty hard to be mad at Sandoval to this point, but at some point in the next 5 years, he's going to drive me insane.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on May 12, 2015 11:22:54 GMT -5
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Post by jimed14 on May 12, 2015 12:01:28 GMT -5
That's not exactly encouraging or reassuring. Just confirms the stubbornness that almost all switch hitters have about giving up the useless side.
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Post by jimed14 on May 12, 2015 12:07:42 GMT -5
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Post by okin15 on May 12, 2015 12:31:17 GMT -5
Holt has very neutral splits and I'd be pretty comfortable with him hitting for Sandoval versus a LHP, especially in situations where getting a single is extra important (e.g., tied game, two outs, runner on second). Totally agree, but I'd probably drop over dead in shock if Farrell actually used that thought process and made that decision. His decision making process is: 1) veteran not named Nava is up 2) let him hit Even if you assume his thinking is more nuanced. We can't just take a 36 AB sample and say OK, from now on, I'm going to PH one LHB for another whenever there's a LOOGY on the mound. It just doesn't make statistical sense. Sure, you can play a hunch once in a while, but we have to look back at the two players' track records over a couple of years at least and when you do that, the numbers just don't add up. Even more so when Holt is in a slump.
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Post by jmei on May 12, 2015 12:36:07 GMT -5
Even if you assume his thinking is more nuanced. We can't just take a 36 AB sample and say OK, from now on, I'm going to PH one LHB for another whenever there's a LOOGY on the mound. It just doesn't make statistical sense. Sure, you can play a hunch once in a while, but we have to look back at the two players' track records over a couple of years at least and when you do that, the numbers just don't add up. Even more so when Holt is in a slump. It's not just a hunch, and it's not just 36 ABs. Past three years, versus LHP: Holt: 204 PAs, .277/.333/.402/.736, 104 wRC+ Sandoval: 404 PAs, .216/.272/.308/.580, 66 wRC+
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Post by Oregon Norm on May 12, 2015 12:38:33 GMT -5
...and Holt is in a slump. Since Apr 20, his slash line is .194/.326/.361, and I was generous, having gone back far enough to catch a couple of 2-hit games. I really like the guy... in smaller doses... when he's hot. When he's not, I'd rather the team see him for what he is, a great super-utility player, who can rotate into different positions over a week's time, giving players a much needed rest when the schedule tightens up.
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Post by jimed14 on May 12, 2015 15:06:26 GMT -5
...and Holt is in a slump. Since Apr 20, his slash line is .194/.326/.361, and I was generous, having gone back far enough to catch a couple of 2-hit games. I really like the guy... in smaller doses... when he's hot. When he's not, I'd rather the team see him for what he is, a great super-utility player, who can rotate into different positions over a week's time, giving players a much needed rest when the schedule tightens up. And that slash line makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Sandoval's batting RH (.065/.094/.065/37.5K%). He's approaching Nava/Salty levels for batting RH.
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Post by klostrophobic on May 12, 2015 15:10:12 GMT -5
This A's lineup is going to break Masterson in half. Hope Steven Wright is ready to go 5 in relief.
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Post by okin15 on May 12, 2015 15:18:08 GMT -5
Given 204 PA's, Holt has quite a bit of regression to the mean coming. It's not that he has huge splits, but he performed last year well above established levels.
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radiohix
Veteran
'At the end of the day, we bang. We bang. We're going to swing.' Alex Verdugo
Posts: 6,410
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Post by radiohix on May 12, 2015 15:23:49 GMT -5
Really hoping thatthe BABIP gods smile on Masterson tonight 'cause I don't see how he's going to finish 3 innings with his diminishing stuff.
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Post by mgoetze on May 12, 2015 15:59:10 GMT -5
This A's lineup is going to break Masterson in half. Hope Steven Wright is ready to go 5 in relief. Sure, he's got to stay stretched out for his start 5 days from now anyway.
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Post by redsoxfan2 on May 12, 2015 16:36:13 GMT -5
This A's lineup is going to break Masterson in half. Hope Steven Wright is ready to go 5 in relief. Sure, he's got to stay stretched out for his start 5 days from now anyway. Is there any reason for Eduardo to be in AAA at this point?
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Post by soxfan06 on May 12, 2015 16:52:24 GMT -5
This could be Masterson's last start.
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Post by kjkramer on May 12, 2015 16:57:49 GMT -5
My guess is that Wright ends up throwing more pitches tonight then Masterson and will take his role in the starting lineup (switch) for the immediate future. I think we will know pretty quick tonight..... YES... I hope I am wrong..
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Post by DesignatedForAssignment on May 12, 2015 17:24:58 GMT -5
This A's lineup is going to break Masterson in half. Hope Steven Wright is ready to go 5 in relief. if Sox lose the game, Wright goes 5 2/3 of the 8 innings. if Sox win, Wright goes 5 2/3 for the win.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 12, 2015 17:26:40 GMT -5
Given 204 PA's, Holt has quite a bit of regression to the mean coming. It's not that he has huge splits, but he performed last year well above established levels. What "established levels?" Before last year Holt only had 114 major league ABs, split between two seasons, one with Pittsburgh and the other with Boston. His minor league slash line in 1835 ABs is .307/.372/.410/.782. He had some outstanding minor league seasons. I don't think we really know what he would do if he were playing regularly, but there is no reason to believe he would not have respectable numbers, not inconsistent with what he did last year and so far this year.
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Post by GyIantosca on May 12, 2015 18:52:06 GMT -5
I guess Victorino is gonna get the Craig treatment ,play until Castillo is ready and see if you have anything left.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on May 12, 2015 19:20:45 GMT -5
Sure, he's got to stay stretched out for his start 5 days from now anyway. Is there any reason for Eduardo to be in AAA at this point? Plenty. It's not like he's a finished product yet.
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