Lefty Hitters

[Henstein9]

I just took over a team in an online league, and I just realized it has a lot of lefty hitters (5) in the lineup (plus 2 more switch hitters), but of course I didn't realize this until I recently traded one of my right handed hitters for another lefty. So against a right handed pitcher I will have all lefty hitters but 1, and against a lefty, all but 4 (Right handed batter in for one of my lefties). So my question is how many lefties is too many or is it okay to have this many? Should I trade some away for Right handed batters?

Thanks in advance

[damientheomen3]

Although lefty hitters created in OOTP generally do better against lefties (the way the game creates their ratings), it's up to ratings and split stats. Just because a batter is a lefty doesn't mean they'll necessarily struggle against right handed pitchers.

[Henstein9]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

Although lefty hitters created in OOTP generally do better against lefties (the way the game creates their ratings), it's up to ratings and split stats. Just because a batter is a lefty doesn't mean they'll necessarily struggle against right handed pitchers.

So ur basically saying it really isn't that big of a deal to have so many lefties?

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by Henstein9

So ur basically saying it really isn't that big of a deal to have so many lefties?

Pretty much. As long as they can hit (you can check their stats vs. lefties and vs. righties by going to the splits dropdown on their batting stats page if I remember correctly) it doesn't really matter. I completely disregard batting handedness in my league, to the point where I couldn't tell you the handedness of a single one of my players, but I do fine.

[Henstein9]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

Pretty much. As long as they can hit (you can check their stats vs. lefties and vs. righties by going to the splits dropdown on their batting stats page if I remember correctly) it doesn't really matter. I completely disregard batting handedness in my league, to the point where I couldn't tell you the handedness of a single one of my players, but I do fine.

Alright, thanks a lot

[Isryion]

I'd just add that handedness can disadvantage the pitcher as well. So a LHB might be better against RHP and a particular right handed pitcher might be worse against LHB, doubling the advantage so to speak.

That said, as Damien mentioned, individual ratings/stats should be used to evaluate whether you should have a player in the lineup and against which handed pitchers rather than simply which side they hit from.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by Henstein9

So ur basically saying it really isn't that big of a deal to have so many lefties?

Depends on your park also. If you play in Yankee Stadium, Citizen's Bank Park or say Coors it won't matter. If you play in Wrigley it will. Only 1 Left handed player over 30 Hr in 30 yrs. Personally I like to platoon. Most of my teams have 4-5 lefties vs RH and then I only have 2-3 vs LHP. and those tend to be leadoff #8/9 and #6 hitters. If my C is a leftie I sit him vs RHP unless the backup sucks vs LHP.