Thread: Hunter or Jones?

Originally Posted by OrangePuck

You don't think that Manny sees a lot of fat fastballs down the middle of the plate from right handed pitchers when Ortiz is on deck?

Actually, no. I don't think that. I don't think there is a pitcher on this planet who is dumb enough to throw Manny a single (let alone a lot) of fat fastballs down the middle of the plate...regardless of who is hitting behid him.

"Protection" in a lineup is important, but not because it makes a hitter better because of who's hitting behind him. I believe that "Protection" is more accurately described as another good hitter who can cash in on opportunities when the hitter in front of him has failed, moved runners up, or started a rally.

Manny Ramirez actually had his best slugging percentage and OBP in 2002, the year BEFORE Ortiz came to the Red Sox. In 2002 he didn't have near the "protection" as you seemingly define it.

VOkay, let's look at some hard facts to compare how hitters do with protection versus without protection

In 1996, Barry Bonds was protected by Matt Williams. Matt was injured for roughly half the season. With protection, Bonds had 20 homers and 59 RBIs in 330 plate appearances with 51 walks. Without protection, Bonds had 22 homers and 67 RBIs in 328 plate appearances with 97 walks.

If you want a bigger sample size, an analyst studied 25 different hitters who hit in protected and unprotected lineups during the 1991 season, and found no evidence to suggest that hitting in a protected situation alwyas helped a hitter. Some players like Ruben Sierra and Carlos Baerga hit worse when protected, while Roberto Alomar and Cecil Fielder hit better. There was no clear trend. You can find the study here

Aw ****, son!

This is basically universal ownage.

As NOFX so succinctly puts it, "you're wrong."

Wow, 22-8. I wonder who the Padre fans voted for.