November 19, 201015 yr Kenny Williams is apparently focused upon finding a potent left handed bat. I must admit that I have been almost myopically obsessed with the same quest. I just looked at last season's split stats for the Sox, assuming that I would see corroborating evidence of their ineffectiveness versus right handed pitching, due to the total lack of a left handed threat. I was shocked to discover that they actually hit right handers better than southpaws!! Among all Big League teams vs left handers, they ranked 16th in runs, while posting a .251 avg. .331 OBP, .419 SLG and .750 OPS However, vs right handers they were 5th in the Majors in runs scored, while posting a .271 avg. .332 OBP, .420 SLG and .752 OPS Maybe some of you knew that, but it should give pause to reconsider KW's off season agenda. While the offense was nothing special, it does appear that facing right handed pitching, without a potent left handed bat, was not the problem. The Sox still need a left handed presence in the middle of the order, but let's hope that it's someone who can also hit left handed pitching. They can't afford to do any worse vs southpaws. Edited November 19, 201015 yr by Lillian
November 19, 201015 yr QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 19, 2010 -> 06:59 AM) Kenny Williams is apparently focused upon finding a potent left handed bat. I must admit that I have been almost myopically obsessed with the same quest. I just looked at last season's split stats for the Sox, assuming that I would see corroborating evidence of their ineffectiveness versus right handed pitching, due to the total lack of a left handed threat. I was shocked to discover that they actually hit right handers better than southpaws!! Among all Big League teams vs left handers, they ranked 16th in runs, while posting a .251 avg. .331 OBP, .419 SLG and .750 OPS However, vs right handers they were 5th in the Majors in runs scored, while posting a .271 avg. .332 OBP, .420 SLG and .752 OPS Maybe some of you knew that, but it should give pause to reconsider KW's off season agenda. While the offense was nothing special, it does appear that facing right handed pitching, without a potent left handed bat, was not the problem. The Sox still need a left handed presence in the middle of the order, but let's hope that it's someone who can also hit left handed pitching. They can't afford to do any worse vs southpaws. While a lefty hitter would be nice to balance things out, the spots are best filled by the best hitters you can find. Besides, Quentin basically hits like a typical left handed hitter.
November 19, 201015 yr RHB vs RHP - .270/.335/.455/.791 RHB vs LHP - .262/.336/.465/.801 LHB vs RHP - .272/.326/.368/.694 LHB vs LHP - .242/.318/.286/.604 as RHB - .268/.336/.458/.794 as LHB - .267/.325/.354/.679 The splits are thrown off by the fact that the White Sox had terrible left handed hitters (Pierzynski and Teahen were the Sox two most dangerous left handed bats, putting up OPS's of .688 and .709 respectively). If the Sox had a really good left handed bat in the middle of the lineup, that differential would be even more significantly different, which is a good thing. I agree that the Sox need more good hitters period, but right now you are looking at a hole and trying to get rid of it by cutting it out, which in the end only leaves you with a bigger hole. The Sox need a left handed bat in the middle of the lineup, and they need a right handed bat in the middle of the lineup too. They need hitters...pretty much every team does. (btw, for funsies, here was Kotsay's line against LHP - .000/.074/.000/.074 in 27 PAs)
November 19, 201015 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 19, 2010 -> 07:33 AM) (btw, for funsies, here was Kotsay's line against LHP - .000/.074/.000/.074 in 27 PAs) I didn't realize he drew two walks against LHP. Good for you Mark, good for you.
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