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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?

--posted at 12:15 AM by SG / |

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