Date: 4 Dec 2009 Comments: 1

Published by Keith Giordano in: Author-Keith Draft Prep Player Analysis

Stats are weird.  They can give you insight to how much potential a player has.  However, a little information can be a dangerous thing.  It is easy to look at a player that had a good season and develop an man-crush to the point where you ignore warning signs.  Signs such as striking out too much, or splits that could lead to decreased playing time if a slump occurs must be accounted for when you value your players.  You cannot judge a player’s value to your fantasy squad solely based on the scoring category numbers he produces.  The secondary layers of stats need to peeled back to show the soft, pink, vulnerable, underbelly of the player you are researching.  So when I run into a stat that makes me sit up and say, “Hey, that’s kinda weird.”  I like to pass it on (thus, the “Stat Trivia” page on the menu bar).  It is not uncommon for a single stat that I find randomly in my research will lead me to a closer look on various players.  Sometimes, that single stat that makes me take notice leads to an entire change in my thinking on a player.  So take a look at some of these stats.  Some of them could be just random.  Some of them could make you take a closer look at a player you had ignored.  Some of them could set off warning alarms about a player you love blindly.

Having an obvious weakness against either left or right handed pitching is one of the surest ways for a player to find themselves losing playing time.  In order for this type of flaw in a player’s game to be ignored, they have to offer something special in another area or areas.  Perhaps they are a gold glove defender, or maybe a huge power hitter.  If they do not offer some advantage of that sort, a player will always be vulnerable to losing ABs.  Some of the names on these lists could surprise you…

The following is a list of players who hit below .240 against left-handed pitching:

• Adrian Gonzalez – .234 – surprising
• Curtis Granderson – .183 – wow
• Jimmy Rollins – .230
• Aubry Huff – .237
• Carlos Pena – .211 – not surprising
• Andre Either – .194 – Be careful keeper-leaguers!
• David Ortiz – .212
• B.J. Upton – .190 – uh-oh!
• Ryan Howard – .207
• Brian McCann – .225
• Russell Branyan – .222
• Yunel Escobar – .232
• Vernon Wells – .206 – and still owed over $100 million
• Jack Cust – .221
• Stephen Drew – .200 – did NOT take a step forward in ‘09
• Lance Berkman – .231
• Grady Sizemore – .216
• Nelson Cruz – .235
• Dan Uggla – .208
• Pat Burrell – .202
• Jeremy Hermida – .189
• Colby Rasmus – .160
• Nate McLouth – .192
• Jay Bruce – .210

Because the league hit slightly higher against right-handed pitching than they did against left-handed pitching (on average), we will use .250 as the alarm point for these purposes.

The following is a list of players that hit below .250 against right-handed pitching:

• Brandon Inge – .225
• Ian Kinsler – .230 – worrisome for a first rounder
• Alexi Ramirez – .248
• Jermaine Dye – .236
• Jack Cust – .238
• Chris Young (ARI)- .196 – he was supposed to be good
• Gerald Laird – .218
• Ken Griffey Jr – .217
• Carlos Pena – .236
• Dexter Fowler – .240
• Pat Burrell – .229
• Russell Martin – .243
• Kevin Kouzmanoff – .241
• Kaz Matsui – .238
• J.J. Hardy – .245 – Pissed at organization, needs a trade
• Brandon Moss – .237
• Rick Ankiel – .230
• Gordon Beckham – .250 – temper expectations
• Hank Blalock – .234
• Geovani Soto – .221 – Oneder?
• Carlos Quentin – .245
• Jay Bruce – .229 – He’s on both lists
• Dionner Navarro – .182
• Josh Hamilton – .239
• Garret Atkins – .199
• Chris Iannetta – .202
• Jason Giambi – .171

Check out the next edition of MLB Stats You Need to Know.