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Post-Season Platooning

Edgy MD Oct 06 2015 09:38 AM

Terry has done an admirable job getting work for all his players over the last two months, but now that the post-season is here, he's likely going to his mainstays... but should he? The Mets open the series against (reportedly) Clayton Kershaw. There's varying degrees of argument to sit Conforto, Granderson, Murphy, and Duda agains such a formidable southpaw, but likely only Conforto will watch from the bench, in favor of Michael Cuddyer. One of Flores/Tejada, Lagares, and possibly Uribe will sit. That's perhaps as it should be. I think, if we were playing with cards and dice, there'd be no decision more sound than sitting Murphy and letting both right-handed infielders go — one for the potential on-basing and the other for the potential slugging — but I imagine Terry sees such a blow to Murphy's ego in game one as the sort of thing that could undermine his ego for the series and disrupt team cohesion. Maybe it is.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 06 2015 09:42 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

I do wish Terry had given Conforto a few more at bats against lefties, especially after the clincher. Seeing how he did would be good information to have.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 06 2015 10:01 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

I'm far from Muffy's biggest fan here but I'd hesitate to sit him also seeing as he's going pretty good right now and for the unity thing. Not sure whatever platoony advantage the RH starter has over him is worth it. I also start Grandyman and take my chances that if nothing else he has a few good ABs and draws a walk. I also go with Doodoo but down in the order -- 6th or 7th. Where I have a hard decision is Flores v. Tejada. If Flores truly feels better I guess I Go with the Flo. How about this nutty lineup: Grandyman dArnaud Wright Cespedes Cuddy Doodoo Flores Muffy deGrom

Gwreck Oct 06 2015 10:06 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

Unlike Conforto, we have seen Curtis Granderson play against left handed pitching quite a bit this year. The results are ugly: Only 2 of his 26 homers; a .183 batting average; a .273 on base percentage; a .286 slugging percentage. I am suspicious of the "team cohesion" argument, particularly given the great success the team had while the platoons in August and September were used. Players aren't stupid; they realize what was going on when the team was winning big.

Gwreck Oct 06 2015 10:09 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

I also think it's crucial to note that this is not just "any" generic left handed pitcher going against the Mets; it's the best left handed pitcher in the major leagues. This is the game, more than any other, where the Mets should take advantage of the ability to platoon in order to get as much offense off this guy as possible.

Edgy MD Oct 06 2015 10:24 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

I'm far from Muffy's biggest fan here but I'd hesitate to sit him also seeing as he's going pretty good right now and for the unity thing. Not sure whatever platoony advantage the RH starter has over him is worth it. I reads you loud and clear, but the numbers are compelling. [list]Murphy vs. LH: .254 / .284 / .349 // .633 in 134 plate appearances. Tejada vs. LH: .264 / .340 / .391 // .731 in 97 plate appearances. Flores vs. LH: .310 / .355 / .600 // .955 in 107 plate appearances. Six hunnert![/list:u] This may be the biggest decision Terry makes!

Edgy MD Oct 06 2015 10:29 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

Mets vs. Kershaw this season: .145 / .175 / .164 // .339 Flores, at 3-for-6, had far and away the best performance against him. The only others to even hint at success: Tejada (2-for-7) and John F. Mayberry (1-for-5 with a double).

dinosaur jesus Oct 06 2015 10:59 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

Kershaw's going to eat up the lefthanded power hitters. He eats up everybody, but especially those guys. You have to platoon. The only Mets with more than one career hit against Kershaw: Flores (3 for 6, all singles) Tejada (5 for 14, all singles) Daniel Murphy (3 for 10, all singles) Juan Uribe (3 for 11, double, home run) Eric Young (!) (4 for 16, five walks) Michael Cuddyer (4 for 16, all singles) David Wright (3 for 14, double, four walks) Kelly Johnson (3 for 15, home run) Small sample sizes, of course. But that's six righthanders out of eight (with Young batting right against Kershaw), with all the walks and extra base hits by righthanders. No lefthanded batter on the Mets roster has ever had an extra base hit off of Kershaw.

TransMonk Oct 06 2015 11:14 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

Yeah, I would sit Grandy and Duda against Kershaw. The numbers just don't lead to any advantage to having them in there. I agree with keeping Muffy in and batting him lower. Still, I can't see Terry sitting any of those guys.

Gwreck Oct 06 2015 11:20 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 06 2015 11:22 AM

I would keep Duda in, I think, because of the limited number of players who play first base. The options for first base basically require one of the three situations: Cuddyer OF / Duda 1B (my preference) Cuddyer OF / Murphy 1B / Flores 2B / Tejada SS (intriguing, but I'd rather Murphy sit than Duda) Cuddyer 1B / Granderson or Conforto OF (undesirable) Also, Duda has fared better against lefty pitching than any of the other Mets lefty batters.

TransMonk Oct 06 2015 11:21 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

You're right...forgot about the lack of 1B options.

Edgy MD Oct 06 2015 11:54 AM Re: Post-Season Platooning

If they carry Young, they could theoretically plug Laggy in center, Young in right, and Cuddy at first, with Tejada and Flores up the middle. But that's not gonna happen.