The Lefties in the Pen

by jscape2000 on Oct 16, 2009 2:02 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

This is all prefaced by the phrase "I don't really want to see Damaso Marte pitch in the ALCS."

But the lazy sportswriter (and lazy manager) way of approaching carrying 2 lefties is to regard them as available to try to keep Bobby Abreu off base.

But there's plenty of room to use a lefty against the Angels.

Check it out:

Hitter	vs LHP	vs RHP
Mike Napoli	.330/.417/.606	.253/.327/.455
Kendry Morales	.296/.319/.481	.309/.366/.596
Howie Kendrick	.313/.331/.500	.278/.336/.409
Erick Aybar	.325/.356/.411	.305/.351/.411
Chone Figgins	.246/.325/.305	.323/.427/.437
Juan Rivera	.333/.385/.645	.271/.313/.418
Torii Hunter	.336./.400/.578	.287/.354/.484
Bobby Abreu	.267/.348/.386	.305/.408/.457
Vlad Guerrero	.250/.276/.410	.311/.354/.477

I'd be happy using a lefty against Vlad (doesn't make sense does it?), Figgins, or Morales. On the other hand, every time CC or Andy gets past Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter I'm going to heave a huge sigh of relief.

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Comments

i see that Marte

actually has good stats vs. LHB this year, but he scares the hell out of me. the two batters he faced in the LDS, who were both lefties, got hits. just ugh.

by Travis G on Oct 16, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I would say the one flaw on our team is the lack of LHP depth in the bullpen.

by Wraithpk on Oct 16, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

If the RHP relievers are good enough

we won’t need LHP depth in the bullpen.

by pinstriper on Oct 16, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

The thing that scares the heck out of me

about Marte is that he cannot seem to throw strikes reliably. In a typical at-bat, Marte will fall behind early, then have to throw a strike, which pretty much takes away the wicked breaking stuff, instead tossing what amounts to a big meatball right in the hitter’s wheelhouse. The hitter knows it’s coming and gets a base hit. If Marte instead goes with the breaking ball, he tends to walk the hitter. These things tend to get worse in more stressful situations… but what’s the point of carrying a reliever who’s only meant for left-handed batters AND who can’t be put into a situation where there are men on base and/or it’s particularly stressful?

by pinstriper on Oct 16, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions