AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 25
Friday, August 25, 2006
What happened to Andruw vs. lefties?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wasn’t “40 Minutes of Hell” the term for Nolan Richardson’s defense at Arkansas years ago? No longer. I’m stealing it to label my drive to Turner Field on Friday afternoon in Atlanta, the City Too Busy to Work Past Noon on Friday.
Anyway … we’ve arrived safely to the ballpark now, sitting here in the pressbox, staring out at those division “flags” flying above left field (actually metal signs screwed to the façade of the upper deck).
Well, at least they’re not going to have to re-arrange those babies to make room for a new one this year. Almost like they knew this was coming, because there’s not room for another one up there. They would’ve had to bump 1969 from the lineup (I don’t know that many in Atlanta would raise hell if they bumped the 1969 flag from the lineup, though I could be wrong).
And you know, I’m waiting for one of those flags to bust a screw loose and start swinging slowly back and forth during the game, making a creaking sound like the sign over a saloon in an old western after a shootout. Would just seem surreal and appropriate at the same time….
So I’m going to go down and ask Andruw about something I noticed today while doing research and crunching numbers and trying to find something fresh and new in this season that’s become stale and old.
And here’s what I found, which as far as I know, hasn’t been noted anywhere else: Andruw is hitting worse against left-handed pitchers with virtually every passing season.
He’s at a career-worst .216 (19-for-88) with just 11 RBIs against them this season, though he does have five homers. He’s slugging .409 against lefties, very low for a power-hitting right-handed hitter who led the majors in home runs last season.
Against righties, he’s hitting .279 with 24 homers, 91 RBIs and a .541 slugging percentage in 355 at-bats.
That’s .216-5-11 and .409 slugging vs. lefties, .279-24-91-.541 vs. righties, from a guy who entered this season with a higher average and slugging percentage against lefties (.276 and .522) than against righties (.265 and .497).
In the 2003-05 seasons, he hit .260 and slugged .531 vs. lefties, and .269/.524 vs. righties. But it’s been a steady erosion against lefties since he hit .312 with 12 homers against them in 1998. In his first season in 1996, Jones hit .379 with FIVE HOMERS in just 29 at-bats against lefties.
So what’s happened? Anybody out there have any ideas? We know why Andruw stopped being a 30-30 and .300 threat, because he gained weight and focused more on power. But why the decline vs. lefties in relation to righties? I’ll see if he has any clue at all. I know I don’t.
Anyway, going down to the clubhouse now.
Nothing can bother me today, not even the sophomoric posts from the small-minded dude who spewed bile all over our fine blog this morning. Because I’ve got a new pair of Chuck Taylors on today, and I saw X last night. All’s good.
And for those who don’t like the meanderings and ramblings of this blog, who don’t like to see us discuss music _ from Johnny Cash to Led Zep and back _ and barbecue and sweet tea in addition to the Braves, well, look elsewhere. It is what it is. Ain’t changing.
As Albert Einstein once said, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”
I don’t know that we have any geniuses here _ though I wouldn’t doubt if a few of our frequent posters approach a 150 IQ _ but I know, without a doubt, we have a lot of great spirits here at Braves and The Man in Black.
Rock on. And pass the pie.
