Does Baker understand splits?

[Hacking Out Machine]

Baker lately has been lamenting his current situation by saying he doesn't have his team, too many kids are playing, players need to perform on the field, etc, etc. he also said that his job is to prepare his players before the game.

 

That's a load of crap, obviously. His #1 job is to put the players he has in the best position possible to be successful. Although Hendry's performance has been dismal in getting good return for a $90+ million payroll, Baker is to blame for trotting out lineups that had little or no chance to succeed. He claims to have no idea why the Cubs have stunk so badly against lefties. If Baker had any idea what a split is, he would know the following:

 

Jacque Jones is hitting .208 .230 .375 against lefties, yet he continues to blindly trot him out there every day. He hits righties very well(.324 .357 .555), but needs a platoon partner. A 5 year old could figure this out. Matt Murton is hitting .333 .410 .493 against lefties. Any chance we'll see this platoon, now that Nevin has emerged as a reasonable power bat capable of manning the other outfield spot? Sitting Murton and his .231 .297 .301 against righties is a good idea, but he should definitely be in there against lefties.

 

Neifi Perez is actually a marginally useful player when he bats right handed. He's at .306 .308 .429 when hitting righty, but .207 .223 .272 when hitting lefty. Conclusion: Perez should never, ever see the field against a right handed pitcher. Unfortunately, Baker has seen fit to play him in 41 games against lefties. Meanwhile, Ronny Cedeno is hitting a solid .328 .344 .450 against righties, continuing his reverse split that has been evident last year and throughout his mnor league career. Against lefties he's at .167 .205 .202, which might be the worst split I've ever seen. The problem is that Perez plays more against righties than he does against lefties, suggesting that Baker has no idea of what his players are even accomplishing. Cedeno should play every day against righties, Perez every day against lefties. Since Perez can bat lefty and Cedeno doesn't, and this requires a modicum of thought, Baker probably would never consider it.

 

Juan Pierre should have a seat in favor of Womack against lefties as well. He's at .208 .252 .250 against lefties. Against righties, (.273 .319 .381) he barely justifis a lineup slot. Womack isn't much better, but he's an upgrade against lefties. (.286 .333 .286). Womack's actually shown a willingness to walk since he's gotten here, something that I'm sure Baker and the Aggressive Approach Gestapo will soon beat out of him.

 

If Baker took 10 minutes to look this stuff up, here's what his lineups should look like against either pitcher:

 

Lefties

 

1. Womack CF .286 .333 .286

2. Murton LF/RF .333 .410 .493

3 Lee 1B .364 .533 .455

4. Ramirez 3B .209 .303 .448

5 Barrett C .277.340 .574

6 Nevin LF?RF .188 .278 .500

7 Perez SS .306 .308 .429

8 Walker 2B .208 .326 .292

9 Pitcher

 

Righties

 

1. Pierre CF .273 .319 .381

2 Walker 2B .329 .388 .425

3 Lee 1B ..317 .412 .610

4 Ramirez 3B .262 .311 .465

5 Jones RF ..324 .357 .555

6 Nevin LF ..343 .361 .629

7 Barrett C .318 .380 .486

8 Cedeno SS .324 .344 .450

9 Pitcher

 

These aren't great lineups, but they are certainly better than what Baker has trotted out there. Look at the righty lineup. There aren't really any holes, provided Pierre picks it up somewhat and Ramirez gets hot(which I expect at some point) If Baker would only pay some attention to splits, and how his players are actually performing, he could fashion at least a league average lineup.

 

I guess his response would probably be something like, "Statistics lie, dude."

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Dusty realizes that splits exist, he just sticks to the L/R matchup. Well, except when it suits him(Jones).

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Womack was sent down.

[Hacking Out Machine]

Didn't see the TA thread until you pointed it out. I guess Womack walked too often.

 

For the record, they're facing a lefty tonight. Jones is playing, Murton is sitting. Cedeno is playing (batting 6th!!!). Who in their right mind would bat a guy hitting .167 .205 .202 sixth?

[Sabermetrician]

Our problem might not be that Dusty doesn't look at the Split stats, rather, knowing that even if he did, those lineups still suck.

[Derwood]

 

"Stats only tell you part of the story. You have to have a feel for the player and his makeup, his character, his intangibles. If it were all about stats, then a computer (whatever that is) could be a manager."

 

Morgan Voice>

[NewUserName]

Are those the same stats that say Remlinger is better against RHers than he is against LHers. Well that dont make no sense!!!!!!!!!! If you look in the baseball book that all managers know by heart you know RHers do better against LH pitching and LHers do better against RH pitching, I dont care what the stats say.

[TB_11]

Lefties

 

1. Womack CF .286 .333 .286

2. Murton LF/RF .333 .410 .493

3 Lee 1B .364 .533 .455

4. Ramirez 3B .209 .303 .448

5 Barrett C .277.340 .574

6 Nevin LF?RF .188 .278 .500

7 Perez SS .306 .308 .429

8 Walker 2B .208 .326 .292

9 Pitcher

 

Righties

 

1. Pierre CF .273 .319 .381

2 Walker 2B .329 .388 .425

3 Lee 1B ..317 .412 .610

4 Ramirez 3B .262 .311 .465

5 Jones RF ..324 .357 .555

6 Nevin LF ..343 .361 .629

7 Barrett C .318 .380 .486

8 Cedeno SS .324 .344 .450

9 Pitcher

 

While I agree with your overall assessment that Dusty has repeatedly shown he doesn't have a clue, I don't think benching Cedeno or Murton due to their struggles against lefties and righties respectively is beneficial to the Cubs. The lineups you show above would be near the ones I would like to see if the Cubs were still in contention. But since this season is basically done, the organization should focus on developing talent for the 2007 team. Cedeno and Murton need the experience of facing MLB pitchers instead of watching them from the bench (as mentioned in other threads).

[soccer10k]

No, Dusty probably doesn't understand splits.

 

But like TB said, those lineups would be good if the team was still in contention. But since they aren't, I would like to see Ronny and Murton sent out there every day to get more AB's against lefties and righties respectively.

[Tracer Bullet]

Lefties

 

1. Womack CF .286 .333 .286

2. Murton LF/RF .333 .410 .493

3 Lee 1B .364 .533 .455

4. Ramirez 3B .209 .303 .448

5 Barrett C .277.340 .574

6 Nevin LF?RF .188 .278 .500

7 Perez SS .306 .308 .429

8 Walker 2B .208 .326 .292

9 Pitcher

 

Righties

 

1. Pierre CF .273 .319 .381

2 Walker 2B .329 .388 .425

3 Lee 1B ..317 .412 .610

4 Ramirez 3B .262 .311 .465

5 Jones RF ..324 .357 .555

6 Nevin LF ..343 .361 .629

7 Barrett C .318 .380 .486

8 Cedeno SS .324 .344 .450

9 Pitcher

 

While I agree with your overall assessment that Dusty has repeatedly shown he doesn't have a clue, I don't think benching Cedeno or Murton due to their struggles against lefties and righties respectively is beneficial to the Cubs. The lineups you show above would be near the ones I would like to see if the Cubs were still in contention. But since this season is basically done, the organization should focus on developing talent for the 2007 team. Cedeno and Murton need the experience of facing MLB pitchers instead of watching them from the bench (as mentioned in other threads).

 

I agree completely. Play Murton & Cedeno against everyone this year. I hate the idea of platooning guys early in their careers. I think it's too early for either of these guys to say that they "can't" hit RHP or LHP. Even if they do struggle against one or the other, if you sit them, they don't get the chance to develop and improve against those pitchers that give them trouble. They'll always be platoon guys b/c they won't have faced much RHP/LHP (whichever the case may be).

 

Not to mention it kills their confidence to tell them at 23/24 that they can't hit RHP or LHP.

[CuseCubFan69]

Dusty realizes that splits exist, he just sticks to the L/R matchup. Well, except when it suits him(Jones).

 

Exactly. When splits suit him he uses them, when they don't he doesn't pay attention to them.

[Warren Brusstar]

Lefties

 

1. Womack CF .286 .333 .286

2. Murton LF/RF .333 .410 .493

3 Lee 1B .364 .533 .455

4. Ramirez 3B .209 .303 .448

5 Barrett C .277.340 .574

6 Nevin LF?RF .188 .278 .500

7 Perez SS .306 .308 .429

8 Walker 2B .208 .326 .292

9 Pitcher

 

Righties

 

1. Pierre CF .273 .319 .381

2 Walker 2B .329 .388 .425

3 Lee 1B ..317 .412 .610

4 Ramirez 3B .262 .311 .465

5 Jones RF ..324 .357 .555

6 Nevin LF ..343 .361 .629

7 Barrett C .318 .380 .486

8 Cedeno SS .324 .344 .450

9 Pitcher

 

While I agree with your overall assessment that Dusty has repeatedly shown he doesn't have a clue, I don't think benching Cedeno or Murton due to their struggles against lefties and righties respectively is beneficial to the Cubs. The lineups you show above would be near the ones I would like to see if the Cubs were still in contention. But since this season is basically done, the organization should focus on developing talent for the 2007 team. Cedeno and Murton need the experience of facing MLB pitchers instead of watching them from the bench (as mentioned in other threads).

 

If the Cubs are planning on Matt Murton being anything more than a lefty-bashing platoon partner on the 2007 team, they're making a big mistake. He can't righties. He just can't.

 

Indeed, I could make a case that the best use of Murton the rest of the way would be to play him exclusively against lefties in order to artificially boost his overall numbers (and increase his trade value to the league's idiot GMs).

 

As to Cedeno, I agree. He's not going to get any better against LHP if he nevers plays against them.

[goonys evil twin]

If the Cubs are planning on Matt Murton being anything more than a lefty-bashing platoon partner on the 2007 team, they're making a big mistake. He can't righties. He just can't.

 

Right now he can't. That doesn't mean he never will. It's absolutely foolish to never give him a chance to try and improve against righties, especially on a train wreck of a team like this one.

 

Playing Phil Nevin in LF is one of the dumbest things this team could do. Playing Nevin and Jones against LHP is one of the few that are dumber.

[CuseCubFan69]

If the Cubs are planning on Matt Murton being anything more than a lefty-bashing platoon partner on the 2007 team, they're making a big mistake. He can't righties. He just can't.

 

Right now he can't. That doesn't mean he never will. It's absolutely foolish to never give him a chance to try and improve against righties, especially on a train wreck of a team like this one.

 

Playing Phil Nevin in LF is one of the dumbest things this team could do. Playing Nevin and Jones against LHP is one of the few that are dumber.

 

And sit Walker while Perez plays second. I love Baker.

[gflore34]

The unforuntately aspect of this lost season is we'll never find out if Murton, Cedeno, Hill, et al are going to effective Major League players or not. With Baker at the helm we're going to see lineups with the likes of Nevin, Perez and Mabry in them, it won't end until Baker is replaced.

[goonys evil twin]

The unforuntately aspect of this lost season is we'll never find out if Murton, Cedeno, Hill, et al are going to effective Major League players or not. With Baker at the helm we're going to see lineups with the likes of Nevin, Perez and Mabry in them, it won't end until Baker is replaced.

 

This is what people have to remember when they say, "it doesn't matter if Dusty is fired now or after the season", or, "it doesn't matter if Dusty is fired if Hendry is still here."

 

It does matter. Not only is he a bad manager for today, he is the worst possible manager to have in a season when you are out of it and have to find out things about kids who may or may not be able to fill roles next year.

 

2006 is done. They have to see what they have for 2007. Saying these guys had their chance and wasted it is the most ignorant thing you can say about young ballplayers.

[srbin84]

The unforuntately aspect of this lost season is we'll never find out if Murton, Cedeno, Hill, et al are going to effective Major League players or not. With Baker at the helm we're going to see lineups with the likes of Nevin, Perez and Mabry in them, it won't end until Baker is replaced.

 

This is what people have to remember when they say, "it doesn't matter if Dusty is fired now or after the season", or, "it doesn't matter if Dusty is fired if Hendry is still here."

 

It does matter. Not only is he a bad manager for today, he is the worst possible manager to have in a season when you are out of it and have to find out things about kids who may or may not be able to fill roles next year.

 

2006 is done. They have to see what they have for 2007. Saying these guys had their chance and wasted it is the most ignorant thing you can say about young ballplayers.

 

The only problem is Hendry thinks we are still in it. I'd imagine we actually have to get 70 or so losses (regardless of the date we reach that mark) for Hendry to admit failure and start making plans for next year.

[Andy]

Ask Mike Remlinger if he understands them.

[NCCubFan]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Banana_split.JPG/659px-Banana_split.JPG

 

I'm sure he understands splits. :D