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Outfield Leaning Left

Author	Comment
Sibby Sisti	Outfield Leaning Left		Lead	[-]
Rookie Posts: 43 07/20/08 12:49 PM	Tags : None I've been thinking about this for some time now, how our outfield prospects are so lefty dominated. Take this years draft: Bryan Pederson Tyler Yockey Peter Hissey (reported to be signing soon) Ryan Westmoreland (also rumored to sign soon) Couple that with our top prospects: Lars Anderson 1B Josh Reddick Ryan Kalish Chris Carter (1B also) The only top prospects who are RH are Che-Hsuan Lin and Jason Place. It seems odd that a team that plays in Fenway does not have any more RH power OF's in the system. Is this by design? I realize the prevailing philosophy is to take the most talented player available regardless of position or R/L, but one would think there would be more balance in the system. The more recent OF prospects were also LH, David Murphy, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brandon Moss. Of course if another Ted Williams, Carl Yasztremski, Trot Nixon, Fred Lynn emerges from the minors what would it matter?
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Genus49		#1	[url]	[-]
Rookie Posts: 52 07/20/08 1:05 PM	I think the sox are probably taking the guys they think are the best players and don't consider which side they bat very much. At this point there's no guarantee any of those prospects make the big club so a decision on how they fit into the lineup for the Red Sox is a long ways away. I'd rather know we take the better player and not the lesser just because he bats on a different side of the plate. It is interesting how it seems to have worked out though.
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flap1919		#2	[url]	[-]
Veteran Member Posts: 2768 07/20/08 1:09 PM	It all depends on whether or not they can actually handle left handed pitching. For whatever reason Nixon couldn't, and some would argue it was because they didn't let him hit lefties enough, but certain guys just never adjust well to lefties. Ellsbury has seemed OK vs lefties, and though they platooned Drew last year against lefties he has typically faired well against them, I think the platoon was more because of his softness and getting him rest.
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Tundy19		#3	[url]	[-]
Veteran Member Posts: 144 07/20/08 1:38 PM	Whether it's by design or not, "leaning" toward left-handed batting prospects is not such a bad thing and is preferable given the majority of right-handed pitchers out there. Edit: I agree with Flap and add that it's preferable so long as they can at least manage southpaws.
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ancientsoxfogey		#4	[url]	[-]
Veteran Member Posts: 3104 07/20/08 2:06 PM Veteran Member	The benefit of having all these LH OF, and other prospects as well, is that the Sox can afford to take their time in development. Witness Reddick as a prime example. The guy can flat out hit, but there's no rush to move him -- after all, Drew is around for 3 more years after this one. A little off topic, but I don't particularly want to start a new thread for it and it might as well go here, I'm thinking that where you see the Sox addressing their major needs is not so much in the drafting process, but in the promotion process (for better or worse). Of the Sox's minor league promotions so far this season, I'd have to say that 4 of the most aggressive are Place to Lancaster despite his struggles in Greenville in 2007, Argenis Diaz accompanying Lars to Portland, Exposito's recent promotion to Lancaster (lack of walks didn't hold HIM back), and Almanzar's promotion to Greenville. Who are they?? Respectively, a power-hitting OF, supposedly a gold-glove calibre SS, a power-hitting C with defensive tools, and a 3B, all RHH. What are major upcoming concerns on the big club? What to do with Manny, who can play SS instead of Lugo, whither to resign Varitek and for how long, and what happens at 3B after two more years of Lowell? I don't think the two are unrelated.
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TokenWilliams	Does Fenway really favor LHH?	#5	[url]	[-]
Veteran Member Posts: 139 07/20/08 3:38 PM	I know a lot of people say that Fenway is a RHH dream, but I tend to feel the opposite. I think it helps a LHH just as much if not more. Yes, it's very deep to the power alley in Right for a LHH, but it's very short for opposite field power, especially doubles power. To get the ball over a 37 foot wall in left center is a shot and a half, but it promotes going with the pitch for a lefty and if you can just get the bat on the ball and lob a fly ball to left you'll turn a lot of lazy fly ball outs into doubles in Fenway. Conversley, how many times have we seen Manny power a balll to right field only to have it cauch on the track or just short of it... I've hardly every seen Manny just get one out to left, however, I've seen plenty of LHH drop a fly ball that would be a sure out any where else into the first row. I bet Manny loses more home runs because he's a RHH in Fenway than Ortiz does being a LHH in Fenway. Purely speculative and I dont have hitting charts to back me up so I appologize to all of you that hate these types of posts however, I've watched many games at Fenway and on TV that are played there and I truly believe this to be the case. That being say I do agree with a previous poster that suggested the Sox are probably just drafting the best player available and aren't too concerned with whether they bat from the right or left side
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