One of the common beliefs in professional baseball is that left-handed batters have an advantage against right-handed pitchers, and right-handed batters have an advantage against left-handed pitchers.
For example, a common explanation is that from a left-handed batter's perspective, it's easier to see where the ball is coming from when facing a right-handed pitcher.
However, with the spread of the internet, it has become easy to check each player's head-to-head record against their left and right hands.
As a result, we have found that while there is such a tendency, there are many cases where it does not apply to certain players.
So why does the practice of using left-handed batters against right-handed pitchers and right-handed batters against left-handed pitchers persist?
This time, I'd like to discuss what's known as "left-right syndrome."
What is the left-right syndrome?
As mentioned earlier, right-handed pitchers tend to perform well against right-handed batters, and left-handed pitchers tend to perform well against left-handed batters.
Therefore, if the opposing pitcher is right-handed, the offensive sideleft-handed batterThe theory is to use that to your advantage.
"Left-right syndrome" is a derogatory term used to mock a coach's rigid adherence to a particular theory, and it seems to have spread mainly online.
For example, if the opposing team's starting pitcher is right-handed, the general strategy is to line up as many left-handed batters as possible in your starting lineup.
However, even among right-handed batters, there are many who excel against right-handed pitchers.
Yet, there are certainly managers who ignore that data and stubbornly insist on pitting left-handed batters against their opponents.
When a manager makes such decisions, they are often criticized with comments like, "Manager XX has a terrible left-right bias."
Problems with the left-right syndrome
The data against right-handed and left-handed batters is being ignored.
So, what's wrong with the left-right bias?
One issue is that they are ignoring actual data and making decisions that end up being disadvantageous.
If a right-handed batter excels against right-handed pitchers, then you should just use that player.
Therefore, sending in a left-handed batter who struggles against right-handed pitchers is completely pointless.
This is arguably the biggest problem.
When batters use the same batting style repeatedly, it makes it easier for the pitcher to throw.
Secondly, if you line up a bunch of left-handed batters against a right-handed pitcher, it actually makes it easier for the opposing pitcher to throw.
Pitchers apparently find it difficult to adjust and throw when the batting order changes from left-handed to right with each batter.
In terms of physical location, the outside corner for a right-handed batter is the inside corner for a left-handed batter.
If a person keeps throwing to the same spot, their accuracy will gradually improve.
いくら右投手に左打者が有利と言っても、左打者ばかり並んでいれば、「良いところ」に投げられる精度が増してきます。
Therefore, it would be more ideal to alternate left-handed hitters rather than lining up left-handed hitters of the same type.
Reasons for being particular about left and right
I've discussed the downsides of left-right obsession, but of course, there are legitimate reasons for being fixated on left and right.
As I mentioned earlier, it is said that left-handed batters can see the release point of a right-handed pitcher's ball better because it is further away from them.
Are there any other reasons?
Blocking outside sliders
I've heard from people with baseball experience that being able to neutralize outside sliders is an advantage.
Among all types of breaking balls, the slider is perhaps the most representative and effective.
A slider thrown by a right-handed pitcher will break in the opposite direction of their dominant hand.
For right-handed batters, this is a breaking ball that moves away from the batter, resulting in a high swing-and-miss rate.
If that slider doesn't break away to the outside corner but curves inward, it will come closer to your body, making it easier to react to with a cutter or similar technique.
I believe this is a major reason why batters who use the opposite arm of the opposing pitcher have an advantage, even more so than simply being able to see the ball better.
Ignoring theory and failing will lead to criticism.
The theory that left-handed batters have an advantage against right-handed pitchers, and right-handed batters have an advantage against left-handed pitchers, is still very deeply ingrained.
Therefore, if a batter puts a right-handed batter on the mound against a right-handed pitcher, they are often criticized for it.
Foreign managers like Ramirez and Bobby Valentine probably don't worry about such things too much, but it can be difficult for managers who are concerned about what others say.
If there is data showing that the batter has an advantage, then I think it can be proven correct...
Having defined roles makes it easier to implement countermeasures.
While this might not apply to players who are already in the starting lineup, substitute players are often used in situations where they need to be mindful of both the left and right sides of the field.
If you're a right-handed batter, you'll often be brought in as a pinch hitter when the opposing pitcher is left-handed.
In this way, being aware that you often face left-handed pitchers may make it easier to prepare and strategize against them.
The same applies to relief pitchers; by being aware of the batters they frequently face, they can develop strategies through familiarity and other factors.
summary
I think there are good reasons for being concerned about left and right.
However, if you have data that you are actually good at working with, I don't think there's any need to be so fixated on it.
If you become fixated on that and end up making poor decisions, I think it becomes a bad habit known as "left-right obsession."
Even professional baseball commentators who criticize left-right bias will adopt the same biased roster selection strategy themselves once they become managers.
The reason is that it provides a valid excuse to use fielders who are on the bench and whom the team wants to try out.
This also serves as an excuse for the fielders who are being dropped from the lineup.
This also helps alleviate the Japanese sense of guilt that fielders might feel when being selected for the position.
In these times, it's impossible not to look at the data.
Even when criticized by the media, the director was even more determined.
The idea is to use many position players in actual games.
Thank you for your comment.
Up until now, I had only considered things from the perspective of whether they were advantageous or disadvantageous, so this really struck a chord with me.
If you know whether you have an advantage or disadvantage based on the separate match data for left and right sides, but you're not using that information, I feel it's a bit of a waste.
However, if you consider it as an excuse to try out a player, then some of the previously questionable managerial decisions do make sense.
I learned a lot.
This is an article from quite a while ago, but I'd like to say a few words.
I've never seen anyone with left-right syndrome.
Because the cleanup hitter doesn't change depending on the opposing team's starting pitcher, right?
Only one player outside of the cleanup hitters will change, or at most three.
Moreover, these are all players who are inconsistent in their hitting.
If you have nine players who can hit .300, then unless they're injured, those nine will be the starting pitchers, regardless of whether the opposing team's starting pitcher is left-handed or right-handed.
Also, what's this about the director wanting to use him?
If you were to compare a director to a company, they're like a section chief on a one-year contract.
They assign work based on personal likes and dislikes, and if results aren't achieved, they fire you for breach of trust.
Those who were removed probably can't accept it either.
If the results hadn't come in, I think I could have stepped up too.
Thank you for your valuable feedback.
I will continue to strive to write articles that anyone can understand.