When
last we talked
I set out some offensive team splits so we could identify particularly
good or
bad matchups for your pitchers. This
morning let’s
check out the particularly good and bad matchups for hitters. Here are
the team
pitching splits in MLB for OPS allowed. The MLB average is listed in
parenthesis right after the split header. Basically,
we are
just taking a quick overview of who is pitching well as a staff and who
isn’t,
and we are challenging what we thing we know when we look at a team and
size up
how they'll impact our hitters in their upcoming series. This
is not super-deep
analysis and when your best slugger is facing a tough staff, we aren't
saying
it's ok to replace him with a scrubinny. This is basically rough
carpentry to hopefully
give us an edge when we are trying to decided between two fairly equal
candidates for a lineup slot this week. Its quick reference and basic
screening. I
also think you
will see some things that will surprise you. That is always a plus. Too
often
we get too comfortable with what we believe and from time to time we
need to
challenge what we take for granted ... Best Overall (.332):1)
Padres .294 ,2)
A’s .304 , 3) Dodgers
.312 , 4) Cubs .314 , 5) Red Sox .315 Outstanding
work by
the Padres staff this year so far and Petco isn’t necessarily
a huge
contributor in this column. Worst Overall (.332):1)
Rangers .362 , 2) Rays .358 , 3) Marlins .355 , 4) Tigers .345 The
Rangers are the
pitching gift that keeps on giving. Best Starters (.332):1)
A’s .300 , 2) Cubs .304 , 3) Padres .306 , 4) Mets .310 , 5)
Red Sox .313 The
Cubs problems
obviously don’t start with the starters. Worst Starters (.332):1)
Rangers .385 , 2) M’s .361 , 3) Marlins .360 , 4) Cards .356
, 5) Rays .348 The
young Marlins
arms have been disappointing and Cards fans have to be disappointed in
the
Cardinal starter as well. Best Bullpen (.331): 1)
Padres .271 , 2) Blue Jays .297 , 3) Dodgers .297 , 4) Angels .299 , 5)
Brewers
.309 The
Padres relievers
have been very stingy, but we know the Angels always bring a strong
pen. The
Jays and Brewers have to constitute surprises on this list. Worst Bullpen (.331):1)
White Sox .282 , 2) Rays .374 , 3) Phillies .363 , 4) Tigers .354 , 5)
O’s .349 Nothing
gets a
manager fired quicker than a bad bullpen. I wonder if Sam Perlozzo knew
this
stat when he was walking out to lift Jeremy Guthrie the last couple of
weeks.
Speaking of managers, the Tigers bullpen has to have Jim Leyland ready
to start
drinking in the dugout … after his cigarette of course. Best vs. Left (.339):1)
Padres .279 , 2) Dodgers .303 , 3) A’s .309 , 4) Boston
.317 , 5) Jays .323 The
Padres, A’s and
Red Sox are just good. Worst vs. Left (.339): 1)
Phillies .366 . 2) Rangers .359 , 3) Cubs .358 , 4) Yankees .357 , 5)
O’s .356 Usually
the Yankees
hitters are vulnerable to LHP, but this year the Yankees issues revolve
around
lefty-handed hitters beating up their staff. Best vs. Right (.327):1)
Cubs .288 , 2) Mets .295 , 3) A’s , 4) Padres .306 , 5)
Angels .307 The
Cubs show up on
the Worst vs. LHH list and the Best vs. RHH list. Looks like they
should be
shopping for a lefty specialists this summer. Worst vs. Right (.327):1)
Rangers .364 , 2) Rays .362 , 3) Marlins .355 , 4) Mariners .349 , 5)
Tigers
.349 Again
the Tigers
have to be considered a surprise on this list. The Rangers and Rays are
anything but a surprise. Best at Home (.328): 1) Padres
.274 , 2) Jays .297 , 3) Brewers
.301 , 4) Angels .303 , 5) A’s Notice
that the MLB
average for OOBP is .005 lower at home. The Brewers staff seem to like
home
cooking. Worst at Home (.328): 1) Marlins
.362 , 2) Rays .357 , 3) Royals
.354 , 4) Rangers .347 , 5) Rockies
.346 It
is Interesting
that the Marlins, and Royals pitch in what are generally considered
pitchers
parks. The Rangers and Rockies
do not
obviously. Best on the Road (.335): 1) Red Sox
.296 , 2) A’s .300 , 3) Padres
.312 , 4) Mets .313 , 5) Cubs .316 The
Red Sox are a
huge surprise here. The Cubs epitomize the struggling team just happy
to be on
the road. The A’s and the Padres simply pitch well. Worst on the Road (.335): 1) Rangers
.375 , 2) M’s .366 , 3) Rays .359
, 4) Pirates .353 , 5) Marlins Here
is the Pirates’
first appearance on these lists. The Rangers, M’s, Rays, and
Marlins seem to
show up on all of the “worst” lists. Best this Month (.335): 1) Angels
.292 , 2) Dodgers .299 , 3) Cubs
.300 , 4) Padres .307 , 5) A’s The
West Coast
doesn’t seem to be a great place to be for MLB offenses
… unless you are in Seattle. Worst this Month (.335): 1)
Cardinals .380 , 2) Rangers .376 , 3) M’s
.374 , 4) White Sox .365 , 5) Marlins .358 Obviously
you will
play your best hitters regardless of who they are playing in the week
in most
circumstances, but when it comes down to choosing between two hitters
of
similar caliber, it is helpful to know what they are facing. We
learn here that
it is always a good sign when your hitter is scheduled to face the
Rangers,
Rays, Mariners and Marlins. We also know that you do not like to see
the Padres
and A’s on the schedule.
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