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Sojourner

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Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« on: July 08, 2008, 04:58:25 PM »

A Washington University professor says baseball is rigged for left-handers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-lefties070808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns%20prize%20t

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Bedfordres

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2008, 05:13:38 PM »

Not to sure about this study.  It might be flawed.
Look at Jason Varitek.  He is not hitting right now but better batting RH.
vs Left-handed Pitcher       Boston Red Sox 32  49    4 12   2 0 1  5 17   4 12 0 0 .315 .347 .245
vs Right-handed Pitcher      Boston Red Sox 71 197 14 41 11 0 6 22 70 22 59 0 0 .293 .355 .208
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Keith_G

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2008, 05:29:46 PM »

Me thinks someone has too much time on his hands (the professor that is).

While Barry 'Asterick' Bonds was a lefty check this out:

Hank Aaron - batted right.
George Herman 'Babe' Ruth - batted left
Willie Mays - batted right
Sammy Sosa - batted right
Ken Griffey Jr - bats left
Frank Robinon - batted right
Mark McGwire - batted right
Harmon Killebrew - batted right
Rafael Palmerio- batted left

Those are your top ten home run hitters to date with a 60-40 split amongst them.

Pete Rose, baseball's most prolific hitter was a switch hitter and Ty Cobb batted from the right side of the plate as well. Hank Aaron sits third all time in hits, he batted left as mentioned. Carl Yaz, the last player to hit .400 in a season swung from the left side of the plate.

Nolan Ryan, the prohibitive strikeout kind threw right handed. One could argue that this is true becuase he likely faced more right handed batters who would have a hard time seeing his delivery. However, since the article speaks to a 'rigging' for left handers I feel it is pertinent.

There may be advantages to playing the game left handed but I would hardly agree that the game is rigged for lefties. Anyone who has played the game knows it requires a tremendous amount of skill and athletic ability to play it well.
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T-M-T

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2008, 05:53:42 PM »

A Washington University professor says baseball is rigged for left-handers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-lefties070808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns%20prize%20t



Left-handed throwers are at a definite disadvantage.  You can't play three of the positions unless you can throw right-handed, and left-handed catchers are a rarity.
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the nosh

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2008, 06:32:32 PM »

also...right handed hitters dont seem to have the same problems hitting against righties as left handed hitters have against lefties.
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Sojourner

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2008, 09:40:49 PM »

I'm a leftie.

I doubt there is any more advantage for the leftie anymore than the rightie. Unless you're playing softball on ball diamond 1 at the park on Nadaeu Rd, then the leftie is more likely to hit the scoreboard with a homerun.  :P I've hit the tree next to it and hit the road behind it. Maybe one day I'll hit it.  ;D
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Old School

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2008, 07:48:57 AM »

The only advantage I can think of is that a lefty is closer to first.  He (or she) would have an advantage bunting for a base hit or beating out an infield hit.
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Keith_G

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2008, 11:43:35 AM »

Yes, left handed batters can drag bunt ... oen of my old specialties.
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Corky

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2008, 01:03:47 PM »

If baseball is "rigged" for lefties, then life is "rigged" for righties.
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DundeeDad

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Re: Baseball - Rigged for Lefties?
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2008, 11:22:17 PM »

The only advantage I can think of is that a lefty is closer to first.  He (or she) would have an advantage bunting for a base hit or beating out an infield hit.

I agree with this.  Makes you wonder how many more base hits some righties would have if they had that 3 foot or so head start to first base like lefties do.
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