End this 4 Game Losing Streak Sunday Game Thread

[Seattle or Bust]

You know that analyzing platoon splits analytically requires very large sample sizes, like 1500 at bats. If they are making platoon decisions with less than that then it's not analytics that's the issue, its how they are using the information.

Agreed.

Which is why it's ironic that its failed so spectacularly for them. None of it has worked out in any meaningful way.

[Seattle or Bust]

Explain it? They tried him hitting 2nd, you can't understand something unless you try it. 45-50 games is SSS. There's all sorts of other issues to be factored in. His putting up those numbers and hitting 2nd could be purely coincidental and probably is. But this is about them forcing him to do it and there is no evidence of that at all. From everything I've heard from julio he really doesn't care where he bats. And servais is such a hugger I can't imagine him forcing a player to do something they don't feel comfortable with. Go find Julio complaining about being forced and you will have something

I for one think Julio should get a bit more selfish and develop a bit of a mean streak.

It's not just a 45-50 game experiment. He's hit in the 2-hole in 141 games which is the position he's hit the most in. I don't think it's coincidental and there's a large enough sample size to conclude that he doesn't fit the round hole that analytics are trying to force him into.

1. 107 games - .896 OPS 121 OPS+
2. 141 games - .719 OPS 80 OPS+
3. 44 games - .965 OPS 139 OPS+

^^^
If you can't look at those numbers and come to the conclusion that for whatever reason he doesn't look comfortable hitting in the 2-hole... I really don't know what to tell you.

And I'd be very surprised if he didn't know that he struggles from that position in the lineup. Hitters know these things.

And from what I hear, Servais doesn't set the lineups. It comes from Hollander and Dipoto aka Robot 1 and Robot 2.

You honestly believe hitting 3rd as opposed to 2nd explains a 40 point difference in OPS+? Then i don't know what to tell you. But if that's the case it begs the question, if you can get such dramatic results, why not try moving other players around in the lineup? If it's so important to Julio what could it do for the rest of the team. Maybe Garver and polancos issues are due to being batted in the wrong spot in the lineup

I thinks it's fluid... perhaps even unique to the player.

Analytics paint a one size fits all approach to every player. My critique of analytics is it ignores human and psychological influences.

I view sports as something way more than computer can generate.

You can't tell me that the M's run in 2022 wasn't spurred from that fight with the Angels. No computer can put value on that.

[D-train]

You know that analyzing platoon splits analytically requires very large sample sizes, like 1500 at bats. If they are making platoon decisions with less than that then it's not analytics that's the issue, its how they are using the information.

Luke Raley has 93 PAs vs. Lefties in the Big leagues. Has 2100 total PAs in the minors which likely means about 700 vs. LHPs. Has 400 total in college so about 130, probably only has a few dozen in HS Jr. and little league. Total of about 1000 so you are 500 short. So if he play full time until he is 40 yo you might finally be up to 1500 in his entire life and then you can finally say if he can hit lefties about two weeks before he retires????

[Seattle or Bust]

You know that analyzing platoon splits analytically requires very large sample sizes, like 1500 at bats. If they are making platoon decisions with less than that then it's not analytics that's the issue, its how they are using the information.

Luke Raley has 93 PAs vs. Lefties in the Big leagues. Has 2100 total PAs in the minors which likely means about 700 vs. LHPs. Has 400 total in college so about 130, probably only has a few dozen in HS Jr. and little league. Total of about 1000 so you are 500 short. So if he play full time until he is 40 yo you might finally be up to 1500 in his entire life and then you can finally say if he can hit lefties about two weeks before he retires????

Raley vs lefties in the minors:

'16: 57 ab's - .298/.386/.491

'17: 122 ab's - .262/.313/.393

'18: 120 ab's - .333/.406/.533

'19: 51 ab's - .306/.333/.449

'21: 87 ab's - .240/.345/.400

^^^ nothing about that screams "I can't hit lefties."

[D-train]

You know that analyzing platoon splits analytically requires very large sample sizes, like 1500 at bats. If they are making platoon decisions with less than that then it's not analytics that's the issue, its how they are using the information.

Luke Raley has 93 PAs vs. Lefties in the Big leagues. Has 2100 total PAs in the minors which likely means about 700 vs. LHPs. Has 400 total in college so about 130, probably only has a few dozen in HS Jr. and little league. Total of about 1000 so you are 500 short. So if he play full time until he is 40 yo you might finally be up to 1500 in his entire life and then you can finally say if he can hit lefties about two weeks before he retires????

Raley vs lefties in the minors:

'16: 57 ab's - .298/.386/.491

'17: 122 ab's - .262/.313/.393

'18: 120 ab's - .333/.406/.533

'19: 51 ab's - .306/.333/.449

'21: 87 ab's - .240/.345/.400

^^^ nothing about that screams "I can't hit lefties."

Thanks! Where do you get historical minor league splits. MiLB.com only has current year. Thanks again.

[Seattle or Bust]

Luke Raley has 93 PAs vs. Lefties in the Big leagues. Has 2100 total PAs in the minors which likely means about 700 vs. LHPs. Has 400 total in college so about 130, probably only has a few dozen in HS Jr. and little league. Total of about 1000 so you are 500 short. So if he play full time until he is 40 yo you might finally be up to 1500 in his entire life and then you can finally say if he can hit lefties about two weeks before he retires????

Raley vs lefties in the minors:

'16: 57 ab's - .298/.386/.491

'17: 122 ab's - .262/.313/.393

'18: 120 ab's - .333/.406/.533

'19: 51 ab's - .306/.333/.449

'21: 87 ab's - .240/.345/.400

^^^ nothing about that screams "I can't hit lefties."

Thanks! Where do you get historical minor league splits. MiLB.com only has current year. Thanks again.

Player's BR page -> amateur, minor, fall league stats -> minors game log and splits -> click on the individual year and scroll past the game logs. the splits are beneath them.

[Donn Beach]

When dealing with splits, it’s important to pay attention to sample size and the underlying concept the split is conveying. If a player has a large platoon split over 1,500 PA, there’s a good chance that split is communicating something meaningful. It’s also important to think about the data contained in the split, as some players are selected in/out of a situation because of the very split you want to test. If you’re terrible against left-handed pitching, you’re likely never going to face the best left-handed pitching.

So yeah, deciding to platoon Riley really shouldn't be a function of what his splits say