Question for Royals fans

by Matt Swartz on Aug 13, 2010 10:05 PM EDT

My name is Matt Swartz, and I’m an author at Baseball Prospectus. I’m doing some research on the infield shift (where three infielders play on the right side of second base for a left-handed hitter), and the data is a bit hard to come by. Since I know what a great resource the SBNation blogs are, being a former writer at one myself, I thought that some of you could give me some help.

I am curious who has gotten shifted against on your team MOST of the time, AND who your team regularly has shifted against in your division over the last 18 years. To jog your memory I am listing the lefties and switch-hitters that your team has had in the last 18 years that have hit at least 20 home runs.

Thank you for your help.

LHB

Raul Ibanez
Bob Hamelin

SHB

Carlos Beltran
Chili Davis

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hmm...

by Freneau on Aug 14, 2010 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

With all the power guys we've had in the last 18 years

surely this will be tough to go through all the possibilities.

Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!

by mazoboom on Aug 14, 2010 4:39 AM EDT reply actions

That is a pathetic list

And now I am sad.

by ddw on Aug 14, 2010 10:01 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

He forgot Bob Hamelin!!...

….no, wait, okay, there he is.

by billexgordler on Aug 14, 2010 11:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Why are the Royals continually fucked with?

I guess I know…..

by Nighthawk at the Diner on Aug 14, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

I might be wrong

But I think Gordon ought to be shifted against. If I recall he was in the top 5 guys for ground balls to the left side. Which is odd cause I don’t t think a team has ever given him the shift

"We don’t have guys with a long history of being effective in the seventh and eighth innings."
~Trey Hillman, master of understatements.

by RoyalPug on Aug 14, 2010 12:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Aaron Guiel was shifted once by the Red Sox.

That’s the only time I remember seeing it.

by Dadunca on Aug 14, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like this same message was posted across all the SBNation Blogs

(Well, with less sad and pathetic lists. I mean, at least the Padres have Phil Plantier! Ok and some other guys like Adrian Gonzalez )

Actually, there is a list arguably worse than ours. And it actually includes Mike Jacobs

A couple of others only have 4:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2010/8/13/1622378/question-for-astros-fans
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/8/13/1622382/question-for-dodgers-fans

by sterlingice on Aug 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

I can't

actually remember ever seeing a team shift against the royals.

Who we shifted against:

Jim Thome, a ton. I think Carlos Quentin has gotten the treatment the last couple of years, but I’m not sure. Travis Hafner also.

My memory is failing me.

by sfeldkamp on Aug 14, 2010 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

I think I remember shifting against Morneau some.

Correct me if I’m wrong people.

by hawkinscm87 on Aug 14, 2010 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Matt - I have been looking for similar information, but I haven't seen anything.

The Royals will do it a few times, but haven’t seen it used against them.

- .-. ..- … – / – …. . / .—. .-. - .. . … …

by Jeff Zimmerman on Aug 14, 2010 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

think it has to be matt stairs

i know he was barely here but that is the only one i can think of

by rockchalks7 on Aug 14, 2010 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Wow... we have been BAD over a period of time, haven't we?

Tell me why we never run a shift against RHHs?

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Aug 15, 2010 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Because the 1B needs to be near the bag for grounders

by kcbottom9th on Aug 15, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I Just Figured

That out yesterday. You could run a modified version of it, but it would leave a huge gap up the middle. RHB’s don’t seem to have the extreme pull tendencies of some LHB’s.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Aug 16, 2010 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Bob Hamelin, now that is funny.

Next name I am going to hear is Michael tucker where the shift just includes the right fielder standing 285 feet away as he hits a pop fly and struts to first like it is a home run.

Do we shift on Carlos Pena? Tiexera?

I don’t remember shifts against Beltran.

On another note, his linked stats page in this post could use a better picture, smile a little Carlos you make millions and play major league baseball.

by RoyalsnMN on Aug 16, 2010 10:28 AM EDT reply actions