Soriano vs. Good Pitching, Soriano vs. Bad Pitching

I remember seeing a while back a stat that showed Aaron Miles hitting really well against pitchers with a 5+ ERA and hitting terribly against pitchers with "good" ERAs. Does anyone know how Soriano does against said pitchers? This could explain his failures in the post season.

about 2 years ago OrangeGore 11 comments 0 recs |

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At the end of 2008

Someone posted to BCB a blog article that showed Soriano, in addition to other Cub players (Ramirez being the only one I remember), had ridiculous numbers against bad pitching and crap numbers against good pitching. Since then I’ve searched for that article but have been unable to find it.

The question is whether the league in general hits poorly against good pitchers, not just Soriano. Do players like Roy Hallady put up gaudy numbers against scrubs and mediocre numbers against all-stars? Or does he put up generally good numbers against everybody?

Are you familiar with the old robot saying, "Does not compute"?

by dr stabbingworth on May 6, 2010 1:35 PM CDT reply actions

This could be answered by looking at run production in All-star games

by Jerry Mumphrey on May 6, 2010 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Not really.

ASG’s aren’t played like regular season games.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 6, 2010 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

The answer is yes

I read an article a few months ago that dealt with this topic I think it may have been at baseballanalysts.com. Anyway it focused on elite pitchers and their numbers as compiled against the level of their competition. The articl focused on Gibson and showed that he was better than his fellow pitchers against all levels of competition but against the elite and very good teams he was not dominate. I don’t have the numbers but his W/L record was about .500 and his ERA was a couple of runs higher as well.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that elite players/teams dominate weak opposition regardless of the era or position. And struggle (at least for them) against better competition.

All that said I don’t view Ramirez or Soriano as elite players. Good? Yes, Very good? Maybe, but not elite. So it’s reasonable to think they would have problems with elite pitchers.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on May 6, 2010 3:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Perfectly stated.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on May 6, 2010 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

With Soriano...

…you have to look at his long record of streakiness to have your answer.

Players that are usually hot or cold (and not too often in between) are like this not just because they aren’t seeing the ball well all the time, it is also because they happen to run into a group of pitchers who are making the right pitches against him. Since he has limited ability to adjust his swing (go the other way etc.) he hits a cold streak and than it also effects his confidence. With more balanced hitters, they can also get shut down by good pitchers, but they also have the ability to shorten those cold stretches by adjusting and staying afloat until they start to get better pitches to hit.

Soriano is rarely going to do anything with a “pitchers pitch”, and to be a consistent hitter, you need to be able to do that once in a while.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 6, 2010 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

Before you laugh

I thought the HR Sori hit off Howry was pretty good pitcher’s pitch. FB in the low 90’s knee high on the outside corner if my memory serves.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on May 6, 2010 3:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Sori...

…is a low ball hitter for the most part and can catch up to the pitches down there.

If a pitcher threw fastalls at the top of the zone, and breaking balls just off the plate everytime, he would be in serious trouble.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 6, 2010 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

He's been a great hitter in his career...

even against some great pitchers:
Name: OPS (AB)
CC Sabathia: 1.247 (43)
Zach Duke: 1.142 (38)
Chris Carpenter: .958 (34)
Tom Glavine: 1.208 (28)
Mark Mulder: 1.169 (28)
Cole Hamels: .799 (27)
Dan Haren: 1.167 (24)
Dontrelle Willis: 1.054 (23)
Tom Too Fucking Good for the Bullpen Gorzelanny: .944 (18)
Jake Peavy: 1.382 (18)
John Smoltz: .944 (18)
Kevin Brown: 1.758 (16)
Cliff Lee: .875 (16)
Ricky Nolasco: 1.103 (15)
Zack Greinke: .817 (12)
Andy Petitte: 1.750 (12)
Matt Cain: 1.067 (10)