W_Marone
06-08-2006, 06:11 PM
Switch-hitters have long had a special place in baseball. Long before teams kept any sort of situational batting stats, they kept switch-hitting stats by recording how well a player hit from the left side of the plate as well as the right. Baseball also keeps "records" for switch-hitters in the same way that it keeps track of things like most wins by left-handed pitchers -- as if how a player accomplished a feat mattered much.
Why does the fate of switch-hitters intrigue fans more than ordinary right-handed or left-handed hitters? Who knows? Most of the greatest hitters in baseball history batted left-handed; many of those were natural right-handers who chose to bat from the left side to gain an advantage in a game that favors left-handed hitters.
A quick scan of the batting stats with the highest profiles show a distinct absence of switch-hitters on the top of the all-time lists. In the top 20 hitters in career batting average, there are no switch-hitters. Nor are any in the top 20 in slugging percentage. Two switch-hitters reside on the lists of most career base hits: the indestructible Pete Rose at No. 1 and Eddie Murray at No. 11. In career home runs, Mickey Mantle is the top switch-hitter at No. 13; Murray is No. 20. Mantle is the only switch-hitter in the top 20 in career home run percentage (through 2005). Only Murray at No. 7 represents switchers in the top 20 RBI leaders in history. That's a pretty small list.
On the other hand, there have been more switch-hitters in the game in recent years as Little League parents and eager youngsters learn to switch-hit as a way of increasing their chances of earning a college scholarship or having a profitable professional career. Of course, not all switch-hitters start so young; many don't learn to hit from the opposite side of the dish until they are in the minors -- typically in an attempt to resurrect a flagging career. A young power hitter is less likely to try to switch-hit since he already has a valuable tool that can make him a star.
Even after rising to the top and forging a major league career, it's clear some players shouldn't continue to switch hit: Their platoon splits show disparities so large that it's likely they would benefit from simply staying with their strong side. A few big-leaguers abandon switch-hitting during their careers, but most stay faithful to their ambidextrous style even during adversity.
The American League currently features a bumper crop of powerful switch-hitters, including an unusual total of three star catchers who bat both ways. Most of them are also good defenders and not one-dimensional sluggers. The NL has a sparser crop right now -- with several of its switch-batters hitting for average but little else (Omar Vizquel, Johnny Estrada), and with highly touted young Jose Reyes failing to translate his raw tools into high-level performance so far. Felipe Lopez had a breakout season in 2005 but isn't doing as well this year, and Rafael Furcal has so far disappointed in L.A. after leaving Atlanta as a free agent.
Here are some profiles of the top five switchers in each league:
National League
Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
Beltran
After enduring a terrible first year in the Big Apple, the high-profile center fielder is hitting for power again as the Mets roll on toward breaking Atlanta's stranglehold on the NL East. Never an exceptional hitter for average, and not known for his patience at the plate, Beltran has a long swing that generates plus power. He is considered a five-tool player but has not often been a great hitter.
A natural right-hander, Beltran typically hits about the same left-handed and right-handed, with a bit more power from the port side and a somewhat higher BA from the starboard side. He would clearly benefit from taking more pitches and not getting himself out so often, but his talent allows him to succeed without doing so.
Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Berkman
Currently hitting .299 with a .973 OPS, Berkman has been among the best hitters in the league since his first full season in 2000. He's taking fewer walks the past two years, but his power stroke hasn't suffered. Don't think for a minute that Berkman has been padding his stats by hitting at home in friendly Minute Maid, either; his road OPS was 61 points better than his home OPS during 2003-05.
A natural lefty, Berkman is much more dangerous from the left side of the plate. He has a good swing and handles the bat very well, especially for a hitter with power, which makes him one of those rare sluggers who are also excellent on the hit-and-run.
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
Jones
Jones is on his way to a Hall of Fame career if he can avoid the injury rolls. He bounced back nicely in 2005 -- despite hitting off of one leg for much of the year -- after what was (for him) a weak 2004 (.248 BA, .847 OPS). After being almost injury-free for nine years, the Braves' stalwart has been hampered by foot, ankle and leg problems since 2004. A determined player, Jones will play through injuries when possible, but they still have sapped his strength.
Jones now generates most of his power from the left side despite being a natural righty, lashing line drives to all fields. His left/right and home/away splits have increased in the past two seasons, but that won't hamper him too much so long as he maintains his productivity when batting left-handed.
Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
Rollins
With so much attention focused on his hitting streak at the start of the season, Rollins has been virtually ignored since as he muddles through a poor season. The switch-hitting shortstop has usually come on strong in the second half, however, so it's reasonable to expect he'll go on a tear sooner or later.
Rollins' improvement at the plate in 2004-05 was not at all unusual for a player of his age and talent. Whether he can pull out of his current slump and show the kind of superstar ability he flashed late in 2005 is the big question. He was equally adept from both sides of the plate before last year. But he has showed a platoon bias against righties in 2005 and this season, and he clearly takes advantage of hitting in Citizens Bank Park.
Jose Vidro, Washington Nationals
Vidro
Vidro's star dimmed in the past two years as he struggled with knee problems, but the switch-hitter has rebounded this year to hit .318 with a .377 OBP. However, Vidro hasn't yet regained his power stroke and has only four home runs and 13 extra-base hits in 217 at-bats so far.
A natural right-handed hitter, Vidro has virtually no platoon split. He was completely stifled hitting at home last summer, hitting .226 with a .657 OPS in RFK but .314 with an .848 OPS on the road.
American League
Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians
Martinez
Since he pulled out of his horrible season-opening slump in midseason 2005, Martinez has been one of the best hitters in the game, demonstrating why the Indians consider him a franchise player. Martinez is a very good hitter for average with above-average power; both elements of his game could improve before the wear and tear of catching every day cause attrition in his offense.
Martinez is somewhat better when facing right-handers, but he doesn't show a pronounced bias. Like most switchers, he feasts on low fastballs when batting lefty and swings at high pitches from the right side. Expect more .300 seasons with 20-25 home runs and .850 OPS in the future.
Jorge Posada, New York Yankees
Posada
After last season, scouts were saying Posada was losing bat speed on both sides of the plate, but the veteran receiver has rebounded nicely early this season (.301 BA, .910 OPS). Posada is disciplined at the plate and a true dead-fastball hitter without large platoon splits.
Being spelled more often could allow Posada to retain more of his offensive production as he ages. He remains a dangerous batter and will likely be crushing all but the best fastballs he sees for years to come.
Nick Swisher, Oakland A's
Swisher
After being humbled in his first full season in The Show, this year Swisher has demonstrated the mettle that helped put him on the top-prospect lists as he tore through the minor leagues. A smart, aggressive hitter who works the count well, he has apparently now learned that the game at the top level doesn't come quite so easily.
Swisher is a much better hitter from the left, his natural side, though he does have good bat speed from the right side as well. Like most young guys, he is a good fastball hitter who will need to learn to hit breaking balls and off-speed stuff if he wants to become one of the elite sluggers in baseball. With 16 home runs so far this season, there's reason to believe that he will do just that.
Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers
Teixeira
A talented switch-hitter with fearsome power, Teixeira has enjoyed great success against both lefties (.275, 57 homers in 870 at-bats) and righties (.289, 50 homers in 848 at-bats) in his career. The young slugger uses the classic uppercut swing of a left-handed power hitter when facing right-handers, with a more conventional swing when seeing southpaws.
There is a qualifier, though, as much of Teixeira's success results from his learning to take advantage of his native park. Tex is All-World in Arlington, hitting .334 with 30 homers in home games last year, but is only slightly above average for his position on the road.
Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox
Varitek
An aggressive switch-hitter, Varitek has plus power to all fields. He consistently pounds left-handed pitching but is no slouch against right-handers, either. While he is a tough out, he can be seduced into chasing breaking pitches and high fastballs as evidenced by his 349 strikeouts in the past three seasons.
Varitek has struggled at the plate so far this year, which is not a good sign since he -- along with many regular catchers -- tends to wear down late in the season. But it's way too early to assume that the dogged, disciplined veteran's bat has slipped permanently.
Why does the fate of switch-hitters intrigue fans more than ordinary right-handed or left-handed hitters? Who knows? Most of the greatest hitters in baseball history batted left-handed; many of those were natural right-handers who chose to bat from the left side to gain an advantage in a game that favors left-handed hitters.
A quick scan of the batting stats with the highest profiles show a distinct absence of switch-hitters on the top of the all-time lists. In the top 20 hitters in career batting average, there are no switch-hitters. Nor are any in the top 20 in slugging percentage. Two switch-hitters reside on the lists of most career base hits: the indestructible Pete Rose at No. 1 and Eddie Murray at No. 11. In career home runs, Mickey Mantle is the top switch-hitter at No. 13; Murray is No. 20. Mantle is the only switch-hitter in the top 20 in career home run percentage (through 2005). Only Murray at No. 7 represents switchers in the top 20 RBI leaders in history. That's a pretty small list.
On the other hand, there have been more switch-hitters in the game in recent years as Little League parents and eager youngsters learn to switch-hit as a way of increasing their chances of earning a college scholarship or having a profitable professional career. Of course, not all switch-hitters start so young; many don't learn to hit from the opposite side of the dish until they are in the minors -- typically in an attempt to resurrect a flagging career. A young power hitter is less likely to try to switch-hit since he already has a valuable tool that can make him a star.
Even after rising to the top and forging a major league career, it's clear some players shouldn't continue to switch hit: Their platoon splits show disparities so large that it's likely they would benefit from simply staying with their strong side. A few big-leaguers abandon switch-hitting during their careers, but most stay faithful to their ambidextrous style even during adversity.
The American League currently features a bumper crop of powerful switch-hitters, including an unusual total of three star catchers who bat both ways. Most of them are also good defenders and not one-dimensional sluggers. The NL has a sparser crop right now -- with several of its switch-batters hitting for average but little else (Omar Vizquel, Johnny Estrada), and with highly touted young Jose Reyes failing to translate his raw tools into high-level performance so far. Felipe Lopez had a breakout season in 2005 but isn't doing as well this year, and Rafael Furcal has so far disappointed in L.A. after leaving Atlanta as a free agent.
Here are some profiles of the top five switchers in each league:
National League
Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
Beltran
After enduring a terrible first year in the Big Apple, the high-profile center fielder is hitting for power again as the Mets roll on toward breaking Atlanta's stranglehold on the NL East. Never an exceptional hitter for average, and not known for his patience at the plate, Beltran has a long swing that generates plus power. He is considered a five-tool player but has not often been a great hitter.
A natural right-hander, Beltran typically hits about the same left-handed and right-handed, with a bit more power from the port side and a somewhat higher BA from the starboard side. He would clearly benefit from taking more pitches and not getting himself out so often, but his talent allows him to succeed without doing so.
Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Berkman
Currently hitting .299 with a .973 OPS, Berkman has been among the best hitters in the league since his first full season in 2000. He's taking fewer walks the past two years, but his power stroke hasn't suffered. Don't think for a minute that Berkman has been padding his stats by hitting at home in friendly Minute Maid, either; his road OPS was 61 points better than his home OPS during 2003-05.
A natural lefty, Berkman is much more dangerous from the left side of the plate. He has a good swing and handles the bat very well, especially for a hitter with power, which makes him one of those rare sluggers who are also excellent on the hit-and-run.
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
Jones
Jones is on his way to a Hall of Fame career if he can avoid the injury rolls. He bounced back nicely in 2005 -- despite hitting off of one leg for much of the year -- after what was (for him) a weak 2004 (.248 BA, .847 OPS). After being almost injury-free for nine years, the Braves' stalwart has been hampered by foot, ankle and leg problems since 2004. A determined player, Jones will play through injuries when possible, but they still have sapped his strength.
Jones now generates most of his power from the left side despite being a natural righty, lashing line drives to all fields. His left/right and home/away splits have increased in the past two seasons, but that won't hamper him too much so long as he maintains his productivity when batting left-handed.
Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
Rollins
With so much attention focused on his hitting streak at the start of the season, Rollins has been virtually ignored since as he muddles through a poor season. The switch-hitting shortstop has usually come on strong in the second half, however, so it's reasonable to expect he'll go on a tear sooner or later.
Rollins' improvement at the plate in 2004-05 was not at all unusual for a player of his age and talent. Whether he can pull out of his current slump and show the kind of superstar ability he flashed late in 2005 is the big question. He was equally adept from both sides of the plate before last year. But he has showed a platoon bias against righties in 2005 and this season, and he clearly takes advantage of hitting in Citizens Bank Park.
Jose Vidro, Washington Nationals
Vidro
Vidro's star dimmed in the past two years as he struggled with knee problems, but the switch-hitter has rebounded this year to hit .318 with a .377 OBP. However, Vidro hasn't yet regained his power stroke and has only four home runs and 13 extra-base hits in 217 at-bats so far.
A natural right-handed hitter, Vidro has virtually no platoon split. He was completely stifled hitting at home last summer, hitting .226 with a .657 OPS in RFK but .314 with an .848 OPS on the road.
American League
Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians
Martinez
Since he pulled out of his horrible season-opening slump in midseason 2005, Martinez has been one of the best hitters in the game, demonstrating why the Indians consider him a franchise player. Martinez is a very good hitter for average with above-average power; both elements of his game could improve before the wear and tear of catching every day cause attrition in his offense.
Martinez is somewhat better when facing right-handers, but he doesn't show a pronounced bias. Like most switchers, he feasts on low fastballs when batting lefty and swings at high pitches from the right side. Expect more .300 seasons with 20-25 home runs and .850 OPS in the future.
Jorge Posada, New York Yankees
Posada
After last season, scouts were saying Posada was losing bat speed on both sides of the plate, but the veteran receiver has rebounded nicely early this season (.301 BA, .910 OPS). Posada is disciplined at the plate and a true dead-fastball hitter without large platoon splits.
Being spelled more often could allow Posada to retain more of his offensive production as he ages. He remains a dangerous batter and will likely be crushing all but the best fastballs he sees for years to come.
Nick Swisher, Oakland A's
Swisher
After being humbled in his first full season in The Show, this year Swisher has demonstrated the mettle that helped put him on the top-prospect lists as he tore through the minor leagues. A smart, aggressive hitter who works the count well, he has apparently now learned that the game at the top level doesn't come quite so easily.
Swisher is a much better hitter from the left, his natural side, though he does have good bat speed from the right side as well. Like most young guys, he is a good fastball hitter who will need to learn to hit breaking balls and off-speed stuff if he wants to become one of the elite sluggers in baseball. With 16 home runs so far this season, there's reason to believe that he will do just that.
Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers
Teixeira
A talented switch-hitter with fearsome power, Teixeira has enjoyed great success against both lefties (.275, 57 homers in 870 at-bats) and righties (.289, 50 homers in 848 at-bats) in his career. The young slugger uses the classic uppercut swing of a left-handed power hitter when facing right-handers, with a more conventional swing when seeing southpaws.
There is a qualifier, though, as much of Teixeira's success results from his learning to take advantage of his native park. Tex is All-World in Arlington, hitting .334 with 30 homers in home games last year, but is only slightly above average for his position on the road.
Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox
Varitek
An aggressive switch-hitter, Varitek has plus power to all fields. He consistently pounds left-handed pitching but is no slouch against right-handers, either. While he is a tough out, he can be seduced into chasing breaking pitches and high fastballs as evidenced by his 349 strikeouts in the past three seasons.
Varitek has struggled at the plate so far this year, which is not a good sign since he -- along with many regular catchers -- tends to wear down late in the season. But it's way too early to assume that the dogged, disciplined veteran's bat has slipped permanently.