Trever Miller Needs to Face Less Righties

by R.J. Anderson on May 10, 2008 11:24 AM EDT

Here are Miller's splits thus far this season:

OPS versus right-handed batters: .876

OPS versus left-handed batters: .596

By those numbers Miller should be purely a LOOGY, yet amazingly he's actually faced the same number of lefties and righties (22 plate appearances against each). This is a problem, and I'm not really sure why Joe Maddon continues to use Miller like a regular reliever with the splits screaming "ONLY LET HIM FACE THE BATTERS WHO STAND ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE ARM MILLER THROWS WITH!"

Essentially Miller is facing Dan Uggla every time he pitches to a right-handed hitter, and Juan Uribe against lefties, so why is it that Maddon seems content on him facing both an equal amount of times? Kurt Birkins and J.P. Howell actually have lower OPSes v. LHB than Miller, so yanking him for a righty to pitch to a righty isn't -- or at least shouldn't -- be an issue, in fact the Rays may have a ROOGY on their hands.

Jason Hammel has a .613 OPS against RHB and a 1.012 OPS v. LHB. Hammel's curve seemingly breaks in to righties.

So let Hammel have Miller's right-handed hitters, and Miller have Hammel's lefties, and we may just have perfect harmony.

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Is it possible, R.J., that we have to look at the specific game situations in each case to understand his usage? For example, perhaps he is brought in to pitch to lefties separated by righties, and Maddon does not want to waste a reliever (in the LaRussa model) by switching automatically. Or perhaps the equal distribution is based on one or two games when he was expected to hang in there because the game was out of hand or just let him finish innings when there was no immediate danger of the righties turning a win into a loss. Or some other circumstance may explain it.

I haven’t looked it up, so this is pure speculation. If I get some time, maybe I will check the game logs to see exactly how Maddon is using him.

by bobr on May 10, 2008 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

But he is facing less righties

Especially in the last several appearances, TM has been largely a lefty specialist

5/7 v. Toronto faced 2 lefties and 1 rightie and the righty was basically a 4 pitch intentional BB to Wells

5/4 v. Boston faced 2 righties and 1 lefty and was pulled for Dohmann to face a righty

5/3 v. Boston faced 2 and 2 in mop up duty – no big deal – Struck out Ortiz to end the inning

4/26 v. Boston faced 2 Lefties and 1 righty and was pulled for Dohmann to face Manny

4/25 v. Boston faced a lefty righty and switch hitter and was pulled for Glover to face Lugo

4/24 v. Toronto Brought in to face LH Stairs was PH by RH Barajas – better matchup for Rays (one batter only)

4/20 v. ChiSox 2 RH and 2 LH in mop up duty – no big deal

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on May 10, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

I'm guessing a large # of his righties are in mop-up duty

However, even facing one or two RHB in a close situation seems unfit to me.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 10, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

but I still think it depends on several factors. For example, suppose he gets out a lefty in a close game, the next batter is a weak righty with little power followed by a dangerous lefty. Maddon has to decide if it is worth it to use 2 more pitchers, or take a chance with Hammel or someone else to get out the next two. I think there are also other circumstances that might dictate he let Miller face a righty. But it does bear watching.

Two examples from yesterday’s lineups:
Angels: Anderson, Hunter, Kotchman; Maybe you use 3 pitchers here as in Miller, Hammel, Birkens, although we would be making some assumptions about their abilities if we did.

Toronto: Overbay, Barajas, Wilkerson: I think it best to leave in Miller for all three in that case.

Orioles: Huff, Millar, Scott: Should Miller be left in?

Yankees: Giambi, Betemit, Cano

by bobr on May 10, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends on the situation for me.

I don’t want to turn into Tony LaRussa, juggling a reliever every at-bat, but on a case-by-case situation I suppose in some cases it would work. Barajas for instance.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 10, 2008 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions