Diamondbacks Bullpen

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

NL West LH Starters

Johnson AZ
Zito SF
Davis AZ
Francis CO
Lowery SF
Wolf LA
Hendrickson LA

Out of 7 potential LHSP in the West, we have two of the top three. That leaves one ( Zito ) that's kinda scary...the rest..not so much.

5 out of 20 ( 25% ) of our division rival's potential SPs are LH.

We have Drew, O-Dawg, and Tracy as everyday LHB ( or switch ) and Callaspo, Clark, DaVanon and Montero on the bench.

There's no way that I would be trading away any LHB at this point and would be trying to add LHB ( in LF ) if anything.

shoewizard · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

While I agree that Tracy being left handed is on the things you put in the plus column, I can see plenty of games with 5 left handed bats in the lineup.

Montero and Davanon are going to play plenty, and of course Hudson, Drew and Tracy, makes 5 out of 8 position players batting from the left side in probably close to half the teams games.

levski · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1886

what we need to do is trade jackson to the jackson 5s, then move tracy to 1b and sign robin ventura to play 3rd. lefties galore. it'll feel like cuba...

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

Johnson AZ
Zito SF
Davis AZ
Wells SD
Francis CO
Lowery SF
Wolf LA
Hendrickson LA

Updated to include Wells.

Dangerfield · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:36 am Post subject:

Drew, will have decent splits against lefties, becuase he adjusts to them, and naturally thinks closed. Chad T. will be okay if the lefty is under some stress. It'll be important for him to stay small against them. O'dog was at his Boggsian best against lefties last year. I credit his approach against lefties last year, the reason for his season, and maybe for the launching of a force.
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shoewizard · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject:

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

So with approx. 70% of team PAs coming against RHPs, you gotta love the LH/switch hitters...

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

Definitely a good thing to have.

dirtygary · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject:

Free Tony Clark!!! Wink

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tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1230

stu · Everyday Player Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 570

Tracy's 3 year split against lhp is 228/282/349. I haven't seen any evidence that he can hit major league lhp. I still think he needs to sit against at least some of the lhp's.

Lhp induce more balls to third base side. Maybe when Davis, RJ or Webb (due to his gb not his handedness) is going against a lhp, Tracy should sit and Callaspo play.

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject:

Yeah....if tracy could defend like eric chavez, his inability to hit lefties would be much less of an issue. But last year in Tucson Callaspo hit righties far better than lefties and is probably not an ideal platoon partner.

.946 vs. RHP
.715 vs. LHP

Unfortunately Barden didn't hit lefties worth a snot either

.935 vs RHP
.598 vs. LHP

The best chance for a platoon partner for Tracy in 2007 is Robbie Hammock. Last year in Tucson:

.850 vs.RHP
.882 vs.LHP

and as a major leaguer Hammock was

.731 vs RHP
.804 vs LHP

The best solution to the Tracy problem, if he isn't hitting lefties any better this season, would be to start platooning him with Hammock. Not so much that you kill his trade value, but definitely against the tougher lefties. Keep his rate stats afloat and then hope he mashes righties enough to up that trade value.

Unless of course he starts to defend like Chavez..... Wink

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

Hammock is also an option.

I have not researched the topic but I do find it hard to belive that reverse splits hold up over the long haul. Once these guys get more exposure to LHPs I'm confident that trend will correct.

stu · Everyday Player Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 570

Callaspo's OPF at AAA againstt lehp, bad as it is, is still around 100 points above Tracy's. Major v. minor of course, but I'm betting small sample here for Callaspo against lhp at Tucson.

Also the main point is to get better defense at third for pitchers who are going to need it.

NJ-DBACKS-FAN · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: NL West LH Starters

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

NJ-DBACKS-FAN · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: NL West LH Starters

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject:

Also the main point is to get better defense at third for pitchers who are going to need it.

So basically you are saying that Callaspo is probably going to be at least as productive against lefties and perhaps more so, at the plate, when compared to Tracy, and it is also assumed he would be a better defender there as well.

I think you make alot of sense Stu. Callaspo probably can't be worse than Tracy vs. lefties and at least you get the better defense.

So that leaves the question, how good is Callaspo at 3rd, and does he have the arm? Anyone have any info on his play at 3rd? I have no idea.

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject:

Trying to dig-up some scouting reports on Callaspo... still looking, but here:

levski · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1886

I don't follow this thread. What does it matter how many left handed starters there are in the nl west?

stu · Everyday Player Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 570

I've been asked that question in a different context. The question that stumped me was why do people talk about the greatest lhp and the greatest rhp pitcher. You don't do that for any other position.

As the Callaspo, he played 5 innings at 3b for the Dbacks last year. I think arm strength once you get the majors is overrated for a 3b. The ball comes so quickly to the 3b that he can plany and step towards the base on just about every play. There are not as many difficult throws such as the 2b's pivot when starts with his back or side to 1b or the ss throw from the hole.

In little league, arm strength as a criteria to distinguish between 2b and 3b. By the time you get the majors, just about anyone who has played 2b or ss has the arm to play. IMO, quickness is more important than arm strength.

As we discussed, Matt Williams was a ss in collge. So was Mike Schmidt. Brooks started as a 2b. Counsel was one the best 3b I ever saw. Without having seen him play 3b that much, my guess would be that Callaspo would be a lot like Cousnel and be an outstanding 3b.

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1373