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December 9, 2005


How useful will Mike Myers be?
by SG

It's basically a done deal that the Yankees have inked Mike Myers to a 2 year deal, for $2.4 million. Also, since the Red Sox declined to offer him arbitration(which makes NO sense to me), he cost nothing in draft pick compensation. Frankly, in this market, that's a very good deal.

Myers is probably the prototypical LOOGY (Lefty One Out GuY), who should only be used to face left-handed batters. This is due to a sidearm delivery which hides the ball well from lefty-hitters, but basically serves it on a tee to right-handers.

His splits

2005
Vs. Left: .158/.198/.211
Vs. Right: .385/.510/.641

2002-2004
Vs. Left: .208/.278/.318
Vs. Right: .331/.450/.509

Total from 2002-2005
Vs. Left: .195/.261/.290
Vs. Right: .341/.464/.534

There's no doubt that the numbers show that Myers excels in the role of lefty stopper, and should almost never face a right-handed hitter. The concern is that teams plan their lineups fully aware of this, and will usually alternate their lefty and righty bats.

The average OPS in the AL last year was .772. There were 15 lefty hitters in the AL who hit for at least the average OPS, listed below:


Rank Player Tm OPS
1 Travis Hafner Cle 1.003
2 David Ortiz Bos 1.001
3 Jason Giambi NYY .975
4 David Dellucci Tex .879
5 Hideki Matsui NYY .863
6 Jay Gibbons Bal .833
7 Grady Sizemore Cle .832
8 Johnny Damon Bos .805
9 David DeJesus KC .804
10 Carl Crawford TB .800
11 Eric Chavez Oak .794
12 Raul Ibanez Sea .792
13 Ichiro Suzuki Sea .786
14 Joe Mauer Min .783
15 Robinson Cano NYY .778


Obviously, Giambi, Matsui, and Cano are non-factors so we can remove them from the list, which gives us 12 players. Grouping them by team:


Rank Player Tm OPS
6 Jay Gibbons Bal .833

2 David Ortiz Bos 1.001
8 Johnny Damon Bos .805

1 Travis Hafner Cle 1.003
7 Grady Sizemore Cle .832

9 David DeJesus KC .804

14 Joe Mauer Min .783

11 Eric Chavez Oak .794

12 Raul Ibanez Sea .792
13 Ichiro Suzuki Sea .786

10 Carl Crawford TB .800

4 David Dellucci Tex .879


If you look at this list, suddenly utilizing Myers seems to be less of a concern. The list is not perfect, there are probably players that I should be including here who may have had down years, but the point is that there really aren't that many dominant left-handed hitters in the AL right now. As long as Joe Torre can resist the urge to have Myers face righties to pitch to every single lefty, then he should be fine.

There are 3 teams which have more than one above-average lefty hitter in the same lineup which could lead to Myers facing a righty if the situation calls for him to pitch to both. There are other players who aren't on this list who may be a concern, people like Hank Blalock, Trot Nixon and Aubrey Huff, but the fact is that if there's a righty that has to be retired to get to them, Myers is not good enough to take that chance. He should be saved to basically pitch to one hitter in a game. If the lineup calls for him to face multiple lefties in a row, then he can be used like that. He should never pitch to a guy who is likely to get pinch-hit for.

It's not a bad signing if he's used correctly, but my concern is that he won't be used correctly. See Wayne F'ing Franklin if you feel my concerns are not valid. If the Yankees can trade one of their extra righty arms (Small, Wright, Proctor), they can probably squeeze in Matt Smith or another lefty like Joey Eischen, which may make Myers's usage more optimal. Honestly, if he gets David Ortiz out a few times he may earn his contract right there.

Oh, and how about getting a CENTERFIELDER? Anyone?