Comments on: Left-handed Baseball Players Have Advantage http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/ An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:33:21 +0900 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Christopher Pellegrini http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-230 Christopher Pellegrini Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:06:14 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-230 Mike, We'd love to see what you're working on, so please send it to: admin{at}tokyoswallows.com (of course, please replace the brackets and 'at' with the real deal) Thanks, Tsubamegun Mike,
We’d love to see what you’re working on, so please send it to:

admin{at}tokyoswallows.com

(of course, please replace the brackets and ‘at’ with the real deal)

Thanks,
Tsubamegun

]]> By: Mike Sweeney http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-229 Mike Sweeney Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:24:38 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-229 I have set out to write a paper on "left-handed" batsmen in the game of cricket and found your article on "left-handed" baseball batters to be very instructive. I have come to the conclusion that the terms "left (or right) handed" are misleading when applied to 2 such handed activities. Who made the decision in baseball that a batter standing on the first base side of the plate (and with the the right hand above the left gripping the bat) should be called "left-handed"? I have recently completed the first draft of my paper and would be happy to send it to you via e.mail if you provide your e.mail address. Regards Mike Sweeney Canberra, Australia I have set out to write a paper on “left-handed” batsmen in the game of cricket and found your article on “left-handed” baseball batters to be very instructive. I have come to the conclusion that the terms “left (or right) handed” are misleading when applied to 2 such handed activities. Who made the decision in baseball that a batter standing on the first base side of the plate (and with the the right hand above the left gripping the bat) should be called “left-handed”? I have recently completed the first draft of my paper and would be happy to send it to you via e.mail if you provide your e.mail address.
Regards
Mike Sweeney
Canberra, Australia

]]> By: Garrett DeOrio http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-228 Garrett DeOrio Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:40:53 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-228 Yes, that's it. Thanks. Yes, that’s it. Thanks.

]]> By: Christopher Pellegrini http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-227 Christopher Pellegrini Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:20:58 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-227 Actually, the question was more along the lines of, 'What if, starting tomorrow, they switched first and third?' to which he replied, "<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/print?page=ichiro" rel="nofollow">I'd retire.</a>" Actually, the question was more along the lines of,

‘What if, starting tomorrow, they switched first and third?’

to which he replied,

“I’d retire.“

]]> By: Garrett DeOrio http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/07/14/left-handed-baseball-players-have-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Garrett DeOrio Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:20:58 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-226 I haven't found the actual quote, but I recall an interview with Ichiro a couple years back in which he was asked how he'd have fared if the order in which the bases were run were reversed and he said he wouldn't be a pro. Considering how many plays at first appear to be decided by a step, it would seem obvious that lefties would be far more likely to succeed as hitters for average. Any idea what the breakdown is like? Players with high averages vs. power hitters, etc. I would assume the difference for power hitters would be less pronounced - they still have a disadvantage in terms of picking up the ball when facing a right-handed pitcher, but speed would be less of a factor. On the fielding side, the article brings up the disadvantages lefties have in the infield, which has me wondering: has there ever been a great lefty 3rd baseman or middle infielder? Are left-handed catchers better at stopping steals when the batter is a lefty or does the batter interrupt their line of sight too much? Or are there just too few lefty catchers for that to be ascertained? I haven’t found the actual quote, but I recall an interview with Ichiro a couple years back in which he was asked how he’d have fared if the order in which the bases were run were reversed and he said he wouldn’t be a pro. Considering how many plays at first appear to be decided by a step, it would seem obvious that lefties would be far more likely to succeed as hitters for average.

Any idea what the breakdown is like? Players with high averages vs. power hitters, etc. I would assume the difference for power hitters would be less pronounced – they still have a disadvantage in terms of picking up the ball when facing a right-handed pitcher, but speed would be less of a factor.

On the fielding side, the article brings up the disadvantages lefties have in the infield, which has me wondering: has there ever been a great lefty 3rd baseman or middle infielder?

Are left-handed catchers better at stopping steals when the batter is a lefty or does the batter interrupt their line of sight too much? Or are there just too few lefty catchers for that to be ascertained?

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