Why are all the A's prospects LH hitters?

by Aparicio11 on May 10, 2005 2:42 PM PDT Comment 8 comments

Any help for the A's is likely to come from the 40 man roster first and lower levels later. However, we have no RH hitters on the 40 man at the minor league level that would be of any help. All the big guns Johnson, Watson and Cust(no on 40 man) are all LH......all with good numbers. Check out Midland and the same thing the incredible Andre (who won't be at AA much longer if he keeps hitting), Colamarino, and Quintanilla are LH. Drill deeper into Stockton and Barton and the other significant prospects like Robinett, Putnam and Majewski are all LH.
I am not sure the A's have a legit RH power hitter in their organization.
We know the A's don't have one. It really begs the trade issue....and makes you wonder if they have a draft strategy to draft only LH hitters. Only some of the Catchers like Suzuki ar RH hitters.

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Why Does Everyone Obsess Over Handedness?

I would settle for any sort of handed hitters: Right, left, or one arm coming out of the center of the guy's chest.

by floyd on May 10, 2005 2:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

due to cost restraints....

...the a's organization were only able to purchase lefthanded bats. they've promised to purchase righthanded bats next year, arriving in an assortment of colors that will go well with khakis long pants and shorts and "no maintenance shirts".

The "Free Matt Watson from Sacramento" Committee is now taking new members. Membership is free.

by bigelephant on May 10, 2005 3:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh

by limecat on May 10, 2005 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

are there more pro lefty hitters?

Just thinking about the story that Jason Giambi's dad converted him (a natural righty hitter) into a lefty because most pitchers are right handed, I was wondering if there are just more left handed hitting players in general.

by OaklandSi on May 10, 2005 3:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The importance of handedness

If we're talking about long-term prospects, or the guys in the starting lineup, I agree with Floyd - if a guy can hit, it doesn't matter so much. A lineup of nine lefties who could all mash would be just fine with me. But for bench players, it's a different story. The best use of those roster spots is on players who somehow complement the regulars. If one of Johnson or Cust were a righty, he would probably be on the roster as a potential pinch-hitter or platoon player at 1B/DH (the role that Karros was supposed to fill last year, except for the slight problem that he totally sucked). But since they're left-handed, they would be redundant - there's no reason to play a lesser version of Erubiel Durazo instead of the real thing.

by andeux on May 10, 2005 3:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Left Handers

Left Handed batters have better numbers then Right Handed batters, even though there are fewer Left Handed people, more Left Handers make the Majors or pro ball period.

Its pretty simple to see why though. Most pitchers are Right Handed, thus the Left Handed hitter should have the advantage.

"The Pen is mightier then the Sword, that is why I use a Paintball Gun!"

by Zonis on May 10, 2005 3:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

most of the lefty hitters are right handed

notice how they throw. True lefties don't get many position options, really just the outfield and first base. (I've never understood why there aren't any lefthanded catchers. and obviously I'm a lefty since I so conscious of it!)

by OaklandSi on May 10, 2005 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs